Helene Restoration Coordinator (HC-65043589)

Wildlife Resource Commission

Inland Fisheries

Conservation Biologist II (NS)

65043589

NC18

The Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) is charged by General Statute 113-132 with the management, regulation, protection, and conservation of wildlife resources and inland fisheries in North Carolina. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, western North Carolina’s forests, watersheds, and wildlife habitats sustained significant ecological damage. In response, WRC has established a Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) with US Forest Service (USFS), along with multiple other conservation organizations, through 2035 which will support the Helene Restoration Division and additional agency positions including this one to lead a comprehensive, multi-year effort focused on ecological stabilization, species recovery, and long-term resilience.

The Division of Habitat Conservation provides technical guidance to public and private agencies, commissions, universities, businesses and individuals requesting assistance for protecting, enhancing, evaluating and managing wildlife resources and their habitats. The Division often works in a clearinghouse role by coordinating agency comments on resources related to every portion of WRC’s strategic plan. This coordination allows the Commission to be aware of opportunities to conserve, enhance and restore habitats and wildlife resources. Additionally, the Division responds to stakeholder inquiries with technical and scientific information and is a resource for fact gathering to support planning and data collection needs.

This nonsupervisory position is responsible for coordination of reviews on proposed infrastructure and restoration projects on the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. This position will assist in the temporary uptick of the projects due to the new, reimbursable 10-year GNA and needed coordination related to environmental compliance. This coordinator will also ensure Hurricane Helene-related projects receive priority and triaged reviews that are above and beyond existing staff. The Coordinator will maintain and develop consistent and reliable working relationships with partners, stakeholders, federal and state agency staff, WRC district and regional staff. Another role of this position is to maintain consistency of recommendations across all Helene restoration project reviews through collaboration within the agency.

Initially, this position will ensure the inclusion of wildlife conservation considerations in the planning process which will improve opportunities to include benefits for wildlife. The limited area of responsibility will allow the coordinator to gain a working knowledge of the aquatic and terrestrial resources present on the Forest. When reviewing projects, the coordinator is expected to evaluate project impacts to wildlife resources including but not limited to the following areas:
• Existing habitat quantity and quality
• Habitat alteration and destruction
• Stream conditions
• Habitat barriers
• Stream hydrology and morphology
• Degradation and conversion of wetlands and aquatic habitat
• Wetland functions
• Forest values
• Stormwater management
• Riparian fringes
• Recreational access

This position will be in a home-based office and will be expected to work in both inside and outside conditions for extended periods of time. Normal work schedule will be 8-5, M-F, longer workdays and occasional overnight travel (including multiple-day trips to the same area) are sometimes necessary.

Lenora Cone Murphy

LENORA.MURPHY@NCWILDLIFE.GOV