RICHMOND, Va. — Southwest and Western Virginia will get more than $52 million in federal funding over 10 years for Hurricane Helene recovery, forest restoration and local infrastructure projects, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced.
The funding comes through Good Neighbor Agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, the governor’s office said. Projects include trail repairs, wildfire prevention and native forest regeneration on federal, state and private lands, primarily within Southwest Virginia’s Helene disaster recovery area. The work will run through 2036.
The Virginia departments of Forestry and Conservation and Recreation will work with the Forest Service’s George Washington and Jefferson National Forests to carry out the projects. Their work will include restoring forests, nearby lands and watersheds.
“Two years after Helene, we know there is still significant work to be done to rebuild and strengthen communities across Southwest Virginia,” Spanberger said.
The package includes $13.9 million to restore, rebuild or relocate approximately 400 miles of trails and related recreational infrastructure damaged by the hurricane. Work will include removing hazardous trees, improving drainage, controlling erosion and repairing roads, bridges, trailheads and other facilities.
Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County and Douthat State Park in Alleghany and Bath counties are among the sites covered by the funding. DCR Director Nikki Rovner said the agreement will provide resources to repair trails and recreation facilities at both parks.
The largest allocation, $15.5 million, will support the regeneration of native forest vegetation, with treatment planned for approximately 500 acres annually. The work also includes expanding nursery and seedling capacity to support restoration involving oak, red spruce, chestnut, pitch pine, shortleaf pine and Table Mountain pine.
Another $9.5 million will go toward wildfire hazard reduction and prescribed burning. Helene left large amounts of uprooted, downed and damaged timber across the region. Plans call for mechanical treatment of 250 acres annually and prescribed burns on at least 1,000 acres each year.
State Forester Terry Lasher said the storm’s effects on forests and the broader ecosystem have left Virginia and its forest landowners with extensive recovery work.
Ecological restoration will receive $5.3 million for projects involving state forests, watersheds, roads and stream crossings. Planned work includes the Ewing Mountain area of Grayson, Wythe and Carroll counties and Potts Creek in Alleghany County.
That allocation also includes assistance to Lexington to address concerns at Moore’s Creek Reservoir Dam. A separate $3.5 million is designated for dam safety work to help protect people and property downstream.
The package provides $3.2 million to control invasive plants and insects, including spongy moths, in areas affected by downed and damaged trees. Annual treatment plans cover 1,000 to 5,000 acres.
Another $1.28 million will support community forestry work in communities bordering Forest Service lands and on adjacent federal property. At least 12 projects are planned.
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said they helped secure the federal funding. Rep. Morgan Griffith said the agreements would support forest management, trail reconstruction and pedestrian safety as the region continues to rebuild.
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