United for the Nolichucky: Advocacy Leads to Legal Action Against Illegal Mining
- Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
The Nolichucky River has long been a source of beauty, adventure, and connection—but over the past several months, it has also become the focus of a region-wide fight to defend our water, our health, and our home.
Now, thanks to relentless public pressure and coordination from groups and individuals throughout the watershed, state officials have stepped in to take action. On July 21, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), backed by the North Carolina Department of Justice (NC DOJ), filed a formal complaint and motion for injunctive relief against Horizon 30 LLC, an out-of-state company operating a mining site illegally just above the Nolichucky River near Poplar, NC.
This was a major victory—but the work isn’t over yet.
From Public Outcry to Courtroom Action
In the months leading up to the filing, residents, paddlers, conservationists, scientists, and outfitters came together to sound the alarm over unregulated quarry operations clearly in violation of the NC Mining Act of 1971. Horizon 30 LLC had begun extensive mining and excavation without the required permits—ignoring multiple notices of violation, expanding their activity, and disturbing more than 10 acres of mountainside bordering the Nolichucky River.
Despite being ordered to stop, Horizon 30 continues to operate.
But because of your voices, the state is now intervening.
The state’s complaint lays out repeated failures to comply with basic legal requirements, including:
Operating without a valid mining permit
Failing to submit a complete application
Ignoring multiple inspection warnings and deadlines
Expanding operations in defiance of state directives
The complaint states that these activities present an ongoing threat to public safety, private property, and the environment—and demands the mine be shut down until it complies with the law.
Community Voices Made the Difference
This legal breakthrough didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is the direct result of months of local advocacy, including:
🗣 Packed public comment hearings hosted by NCDEQ in Bakersville and surrounding communities
🗣 Citizen comments at the Mitchell County Commission Meeting, where local residents bravely stood up for clean water and a safe future
📄 Detailed complaints and documentation from NORA, the Nolichucky Restoration Project, MountainTrue, French Broad Riverkeeper, and others
📸 Photo and video evidence submitted by paddlers, residents, and guides detailing the mine’s growth and its proximity to sensitive riverbanks
Together, we have sent a clear message: this community is watching, and we expect the law to be upheld.
Next Step: Public Hearing in Boone – August 11
We’ve won a major step forward—but now the case goes before a judge.
📅 Court Hearing Date:🕙 Monday, August 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
📍 Watauga County Superior Court, Courtroom 1842 West King Street #13, Boone, NC
This is the state’s first motion to seek preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, which could immediately halt the mining operation and force compliance or site restoration.
📢 We strongly encourage community members to attend. A strong public presence will show that this fight is far from over—and that the Nolichucky is not without defenders.
Meanwhile: Restoration Work Expands
While this legal process plays out, NORA’s boots-on-the-ground work continues. With continued funding from the East Tennessee Foundation and an ongoing partnership with MountainTrue, we’ve launched the second phase of our River Cleanup and Restoration Initiative:
🔹 10 more weeks of debris removal, public access restoration, and hazard mitigation
🔹 Water quality testing launched in partnership with the French Broad Riverkeeper and SwimGuide.org
🔹 Riparian restoration projects scheduled with landowners as we move into fall and winter
Together, we’re not just defending the Nolichucky—we’re actively rebuilding it.
Stand With Us
This moment shows what’s possible when communities rise up to protect what they love. The judge will now hear arguments. The agencies are listening. The public is engaged.
But Horizon 30 is still digging—and we’re still needed.
🔗 Learn more and donate: www.nolichucky.org
🗓 Join us in Boone on August 11
📣 Keep speaking out and sharing updates
🌿 Stay tuned for ways to volunteer, support, and stand with the river
Together we are the voice of the watershed. And we’re just getting started.
– The NORA Team
Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association
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