Healing the Nolichucky: First Phase Complete, More to Come
- Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
The Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association (NORA), in partnership with MountainTrue and local outfitters, has completed the first major phase of our River Cleanup and Restoration Project, funded by the East Tennessee Foundation’s Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund.
Born out of crisis, this project is rooted in community. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, thousands of pounds of flood debris choked our riverbanks, endangered public access, and left dozens of outdoor professionals out of work. What followed was nothing short of inspiring: a cross-county, cross-sector effort to clean, restore, and reclaim the Nolichucky as both a natural treasure and an economic engine.
What We’ve Accomplished
Over the past few months, our teams have:
Employed 28+ local guides and river professionals, many of whom were displaced by the flooding.
Logged 1,200+ paid labor hours and 400+ volunteer hours on the water.
Removed over 103,000 pounds of debris from the Nolichucky River and its access points—from household appliances to hazardous materials and everything in between.
Represented a full spectrum of local outfitters and guides from: Osprey Whitewater, Wahoo’s Adventures, Eddyhopper Workshop, Blue Ridge Paddling, USA Raft, and High Mountain Expeditions.
See the complete Cleanup Report here:
This unified effort reflects the depth of love and investment that the people of Unicoi County and beyond feel for this river.
Stories from the River
These missions were more than cleanup jobs—they were acts of restoration, camaraderie, and even joy. Here are a few reflections pulled from our team reports:
“A beautiful day cleaning up a stretch near Bumpus Cove. There is still so much work to be done around this area.”
“This cleanup took place at Chestoa Recreation Area. Two truck loads and a small trailer’s worth of trash were removed. The crew took the time to dig out some items with a shovel. There is still plenty of need for cleanup in areas here.”
“A wonderful day full of volunteers on the Lower lower Noli. This was the biggest debris removal to date for this crew. We were assisted by tractors and heavy machinery. Awesome awesome awesome progress.”
The physical transformation of our riversides is being matched by the emotional and spiritual uplift of those who work them.
A Collaborative Effort
This project wouldn’t be possible without the steady support and shared vision of our partners:
MountainTrue, our fiscal sponsor and ecological restoration advisor
The Town of Erwin and Unicoi County
And our generous friend and local Alderman, Michael Baker, who contributed personally to this project
These partners prove that when we work together across sectors, real change happens—and fast.
What’s Next
We are proud to announce that the East Tennessee Foundation has awarded NORA a second round of funding to continue this work for another 10 weeks. With MountainTrue’s continued partnership, we are expanding our vision in three key ways:
Ongoing River Cleanups – Our crews will continue removing dangerous debris and improving access at key river points.
Water Quality Monitoring – In partnership with the French Broad Riverkeeper and SwimGuide.org, we will now begin weekly water sampling at public access sites to help inform safe recreation and community awareness.
Riparian Restoration Projects – As we move into fall and winter, we will begin stabilizing damaged banks and restoring vegetation in flood-impacted areas—especially where landowners are eager to heal and protect their riverfronts.
This next phase will deepen the ecological recovery while building long-term resilience in our local environment, workforce, and recreation economy.
Join the Effort
If you’d like to support our ongoing cleanup, restoration, and water testing efforts, please consider making a donation at nolichucky.org.
Together, we are proving that healing is possible—one river mile, one project at a time.
Comments