Mount Mitchell State Park
S&EC was brought in by the site civil engineer to help determine locations and suitability of soil/site conditions for new septic drain fields or disposal methods for a couple of existing facilities at Mount Mitchell State Park. The old drain fields for these couple of facilities were malfunctioning and it was determined a new septic drain field or disposal method was needed for each facility’s on-site wastewater needs. S&EC has been working closely with North Carolina State Parks, the site civil engineer, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS), North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Yancey County Health Department, and others associated parties to determine what options are available and viable based on the challenges present on Mount Mitchell for on-site wastewater disposal. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, with abundant Frazier Fir forests and a subalpine climate. Rock is more widespread than soil on the mountain, so S&EC and the other associated parties considered surface and subsurface disposal methods as options. After searching in mountain backcountry, S&EC found two viable, suitable soils areas for subsurface drip septic and S&EC has reviewed the soil areas with NCDHHS and Yancey County Health Department. Also, S&EC conducted some stream delineations on portions of the mountain too. This project is ongoing and several of the septic system details are being worked out. Currently, Mount Mitchell State Park is under long-term closure until further notice due to the Blue Ridge Parkway closures from Hurricane Helene damage.
