East Tennessee River Restoration; Public Letter of Support
- Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association
- 39 minutes ago
- 3 min read
For a Historic Commitment to River Restoration and Economic Recovery in East Tennessee
To Tennessee State Leadership,
We respectfully call on the State of Tennessee to commit to sustained, multi-year funding for river restoration in East Tennessee following the unprecedented damage caused by Hurricane Helene. This storm represents the most impactful environmental disaster in Tennessee’s history, and it should be met with the largest and most thoughtful commitment to environmental restoration in our state’s history—one that protects communities, restores watersheds, and supports long-term economic recovery and growth.
This effort is being advanced in partnership by the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARC&D), the Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association (NORA), Green Interchange, and the Tennessee Environmental Council, with restoration work informed by science-based technical assistance, education and training provided by the Tennessee Stream Team, the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Division of Forestry.
The Work Is Not Finished
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, federal response efforts—most notably U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracts—focused appropriately on removing the largest debris and navigational hazards. That work was necessary and appreciated. However, once those contracts concluded, substantial recovery needs remained across rivers, streams, floodplains, agricultural lands, and private properties throughout East Tennessee.
In the six months following the close of federal cleanup contracts, locally led nonprofit crews have completed more than 200 individual cleanup missions and removed well over 200,000 pounds of additional trash and debris from the Nolichucky River alone. Similar conditions persist across the Doe, Watauga, French Broad, and Pigeon River watersheds, and their tributaries in Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Washington, Greene, and Cocke Counties.
This is the completion phase of recovery—the work that determines whether damage is merely addressed or truly repaired and restored for our future generations.
Why This Investment Matters
East Tennessee’s rivers are essential public assets. They underpin:
Drinking water quality and public health,
Agricultural productivity and soil stability,
Outdoor recreation and tourism economies,
Property and infrastructure protection, and
Resilience to future flood events.
The restoration work underway goes beyond simple debris removal. It includes streambank stabilization, riparian reforestation, erosion control, soil remediation, and implementation of proven best management practices that reduce sediment loading, protect downstream communities, and restore natural river function.
Just as importantly, this work supports a dedicated, paid local workforce. Hurricane Helene disrupted river-dependent industries and displaced skilled outdoor professionals, guides, contractors, and land-based workers. This restoration effort keeps those individuals employed, retains hard-earned expertise in our communities, and circulates recovery dollars locally—supporting economic stabilization and long-term growth alongside environmental recovery.
Technical Expertise and Accountability
This work is informed by science-based guidance and education provided by the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension, the Tennessee Stream Team, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and Division of Forestry. Their role is to ensure restoration practices are technically sound, measurable, and aligned with best available science.
The implementing organizations have demonstrated:
Consistent, documented on-the-ground results,
Rigorous reporting and transparency,
Effective coordination with state and federal partners, and
The capacity to responsibly manage public funds.
This is a mature, field-tested model—ready to scale.
Our Request
We respectfully urge Tennessee state leadership to:
Elevate flood-impacted East Tennessee watersheds as a priority within existing funding and program frameworks;
Commit to expanded, multi-year funding for debris removal, streambank stabilization, riparian restoration, and workforce development; and
Continue partnering with proven local organizations to ensure this work is delivered efficiently, equitably, and with full accountability.
This request does not seek new bureaucracy or untested programs. It asks our State Leadership to help finish the work already underway, using existing tools, proven partners, and sound science—at a scale worthy of the moment we face.
A Shared Commitment
Tennessee has an opportunity to lead by example. By responding to the largest environmental disaster in our state's history with a proportional, historic restoration effort, we can protect our communities, strengthen rural economies, and leave our rivers safer, healthier, and more resilient for generations to come.
Respectfully submitted,
Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARC&D)
Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association (NORA)
Green Interchange
Tennessee Environmental Council