Tropical Storm Chantal brought significant damage to many natural areas in our region, and the Duke Forest was no exception. All six divisions of the Forest sustained damage, with the Korstian Division hit hardest due to intense flooding along New Hope Creek. Water levels there rose to heights not seen since Hurricane Fran in 1996. The surge dislodged several major culverts, washed out forest roads, damaged teaching and research infrastructure, and flattened large areas of trees and understory. It also swept away erosion control measures that were just installed last week as part of our New Hope Creek Restoration Projects.
In the days following the storm, our team, alongside a few dedicated volunteers, focused on two critical tasks. First, we rebuilt two major culverts, including the double culvert under Concrete Bridge Road inside Gate 25 to restore vehicle access to the restoration site. Second, we worked to clear debris and sediment from around 30 culverts throughout the Korstian Division to help prevent further road damage during this week’s continued rainfall.
Despite the setbacks, we are optimistic about returning to our restoration timeline soon. We expect to reinstall erosion control measures next week, followed by the removal of remaining trees from the construction zone. These steps will allow construction crews to begin building the new clear-span bridge over New Hope Creek.
This recent event serves as a powerful reminder of the need to design infrastructure that can withstand the effects of a changing climate. The future clear-span bridge is engineered to exceed the height of 100-year floods and will be more resilient to future extreme weather since the design allows for improved water flow by reducing obstructions in the floodplain.
The assessment and clean-up following this storm have already required a significant investment of staff time and resources, and this work will continue in the weeks and months ahead as we repair forest infrastructure and remove debris. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our community. The dedication of our volunteers, advocates, and donors helps us respond to challenges like this and ensures the Duke Forest remains a resilient and thriving resource for generations to come.
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Please note: We are recommending that recreational visitors avoid the Korstian Division while clean-up is underway. The restoration closure is still in effect, and Gate 24 remains closed at this time due to a washed-out road. We encourage visitors to explore the Durham Division, which has seen less storm-related damage.