Habitat Evaluation Framework for Eastern Hellbender Recovery in Western North Carolina Post-Hurricane Helene

Project Overview: 

Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and wildlife habitat in western North Carolina. Resulting disruptions to stream ecosystems have threatened species like the eastern hellbender, a fully aquatic salamander and key indicator of stream health. Scientists supported by this Southeast CASC project will compile and evaluate pre-storm habitat data to develop a standardized habitat assessment framework, helping the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission prioritize post-storm stream surveys and guide recovery planning for hellbenders and other aquatic species.  

Project Summary 

Hurricane Helene brought severe flooding, sediment deposition, and debris to western North Carolina, causing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and freshwater stream ecosystems. These impacts threaten water quality and aquatic habitats, including those used by the eastern hellbender, one of the world’s three giant salamander species and an important indicator of stream health. The storm struck during the hellbender’s peak breeding season, disturbing nesting sites under rocks and logs. However, the full extent of habitat damage is unknown, and understanding pre-storm habitat conditions is essential for guiding recovery efforts, particularly as the species is being considered for federal endangered status.  

Wildlife biologists from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission need timely information about the impacts of Hurricane Helene on hellbender habitat to plan effective recovery actions. To meet this need, the project team will compile and assess existing stream habitat data collected prior to Hurricane Helene by multiple partners working across affected watersheds. The data will be combined with existing scientific knowledge of hellbender habitat requirements to develop an evaluation framework.  

The project will directly support wildlife biologists at the NC Wildlife Resources Commission by providing timely information and a technical report that summarizes habitat data and identifies priority locations for post-Helene field surveys. The project team will also outline recommended habitat metrics to guide future data collection efforts, ensuring that assessments are standardized across watersheds. While focused on hellbenders, the framework will be designed to support habitat evaluations for other aquatic species, such as trout, mussels, and crayfish. By providing a clear, science-based approach to assessing hurricane impacts on streams, this project will directly support recovery planning and improve preparedness for future extreme storm events.