U.S. Forest Service Abandons Controversial Mitchell County Logging Project Following Lawsuit
By Marge | Published 2025-12-17T16:09:20.9+00:00
News
Poplar -- A high-stakes legal battle over the future of the Nolichucky River Gorge has ended in a victory for local conservationists and Mitchell County residents. This week, the United States Forest Service (USFS) officially canceled a timber contract in the Pisgah National Forest that critics argued was an illegal "silent" logging operation conducted under the guise of hurricane recovery.
The conflict began in late October 2025, when residents in the small Mitchell County community of Poplar noticed heavy machinery and logging crews moving into a sensitive area near the Poplar boat launch. The site, situated at the head of the iconic Nolichucky River Gorge, appeared to be the target of an active timber sale that had never been presented for public review.Local alarms led to an investigation by regional environmental groups, who discovered that the Forest Service had categorized t