NORA August Clean-Up Report: Heavy Lifting, Healing, and Community Connection

August was a month of hard work, heartwarming moments, and powerful partnerships for the Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association (NORA). From hauling out massive culverts in the gorge to helping a landowner finally let go of the remains of a flood-damaged front porch, our crews balanced the grit of clean-up with the grace of community service.

By the Numbers

• 23 missions completed across the Nolichucky watershed

• ~90 paid guide shifts, totaling 620 hours of labor

• 10+ volunteers contributing 70 hours of service

• ~25,000 pounds of debris removed

• 40+ river miles covered

• 5 private landowners assisted in recovery

• Partnerships with UCLTRG, Nolichucky Restoration Project, USF&W, TN Dept. of Agriculture, TN Forestry, and Meet the Mountains Festival organizers

Stories from the River

A Culvert in the Gorge

On August 29, our team tackled one of the toughest challenges yet: unpinning and hauling a massive culvert lodged in the Nolichucky Gorge. Using ingenuity, muscle, and teamwork, we ferried the steel to the far bank where the railroad helped us haul it out. Proof once again that when community and partnerships align, nothing is too heavy to lift.

“Twiggy Tuesday” with UCLTRG

In partnership with the Unicoi County Long Term Recovery Group, our crews cleared four trailer loads of woody debris left behind by utility contractors. The elderly landowner we helped called it a “weight lifted,” and the smiles of the crew (poison ivy and all) showed the day’s worth.

A Memorial Stone Returned

One of the most meaningful missions came on August 14, when NORA crews helped a woman move a rock her late partner had collected back to the river. The stone now rests as a quiet riverside memorial for family and friends — a reminder that our work isn’t just about debris, but about restoring lives and memories too.

Porch Demolition for a Fresh Start

On August 23, NORA crews answered a call from a landowner whose house had been washed away by Hurricane Helene. For months, he lived with the painful sight of a destroyed front porch. With teamwork (and a very heavy sledgehammer), our guides demolished and hauled off the last remnants. It wasn’t just the end of debris — it was the beginning of healing.

Community Connections

• At the Meet the Mountains Festival, NORA volunteers gave underprivileged families the chance to paddle kayaks and experience the river firsthand.

• On August 25, we hosted agency representatives from USF&W, TN Department of Agriculture, and TN Forestry, connecting local landowners to reconstruction resources.

• And after a clean-up of three river access points, our Osprey Whitewater crew swapped out gloves for handshakes at a Chamber of Commerce event, building ties with local businesses and leaders.

Weekly Water Sampling with MountainTrue

Alongside clean-ups, NORA volunteers collected weekly water samples across the Nolichucky watershed in partnership with MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program. Sites include the Toe and Cane Rivers, the Nolichucky at Poplar and Chestoa, the Sawmill access, and the spring-fed pool at Rock Creek State Park. Most August samples met recreational water-quality standards; when a site doesn’t pass, we flag it, notify partners, and resample. You can check current results anytime at swimguide.org.

Looking Ahead

August reminded us that clean-up isn’t just about removing trash — it’s about restoring community, land, and spirit. Every bag filled, every porch rebuilt, and every conversation at a festival helps bring the Nolichucky back to life after Hurricane Helene.

We’re proud of the work completed in August and grateful for every partner, volunteer, and supporter who makes this mission possible. The river is healing, and so is the community around it — one mission at a time.

We’re especially grateful to MountainTrue for their leadership and fiscal sponsorship, and to the East Tennessee Foundation for their generosity in funding recovery and restoration work that strengthens both the environment and our river economy. 🙏

👉 Join the mission.Follow our progress at nolichucky.org, sign up to volunteer, or support our work with a donation. Together, we’ll keep lifting, hauling, and healing the Nolichucky.