Prescribed Burn Today in Cataloochee Valley to Preserve Ecosystem

This controlled operation is a critical step in maintaining the ecological health and historic landscape of the valley.The burn targets approximately 89 acres spread across six distinct fields. According to an NPS release, the primary goals of the initiative are threefold: reducing hazardous fuels, which mitigates the risk of uncontrolled wildfires; restoring native habitats; and maintaining the open, historic landscape that defines the Cataloochee Valley.Without regular intervention like this,