PVC pipes swept away by Hurricane Helene flooding still dominate cleanup of North Carolina river

Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, cleanup efforts continue along the French Broad River. Massive amounts of PVC pipes, washed away from a factory north of Asheville, are a primary focus. Jon Stamper, operations director at MountainTrue, a nonprofit conducting the cleanup, said the removal of these pipes is "exhausting" and "tremendous effort."

MountainTrue estimates they have removed hundreds of thousands of pipes, with an unknown number still residing in the river for 70 miles, stretching to a large lake at the Tennessee border. IPEX, the Canadian company owning the factory, has not disclosed how many pipes were stored before the storm or the remaining debris in the river.

However, 60% of the outdoor-stored pipes, situated between railroad tracks and the river, were swept away in the 2024 flood. IPEX has agreed to pay MountainTrue $500,000 towards continued cleanup on the French Broad. A $10 million state grant, initially set to expire in December, has been extended to February. The pipes, comprising 80% of the debris in some areas, pose risks to rafters and kayakers, alter water flow, and impact the ecosystem.