Whitewater outfitters on the Nolichucky River are facing an uncertain future after Hurricane Helene devastated this scenic spot on the North Carolina-Tennessee border.
‘He mattered to me’: San Antonio family mourns man killed in wrong-way crashRead full article: H-E-B plans new $21 million grocery store in Converse, state agency says‘I don’t know’: Bexar County jury watches SAPD interview videos in retrial for man accused of murdering his wife
This photo provided by Patrick Mannion shows heavy equipment in the Nolichucky River gorge, between Poplar, N.C., and Erwin, Tenn., on Oct. 30, 2024, where flooding from Septembers Hurricane Helene devastated this mountainous region on the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Whitewater rafting on the Nolichucky is a keystone of the local outdoor tourism industry, which helped generate over $18 million in visitor spending in Tennessee’s Unicoi County in 2022, according to a study. While most rafting rivers in the Southeast are dam-controlled, the upper Nolichucky runs freely, making every trip a different experience and attracting boaters who seek adventure.
The Forest Service has temporarily closed the boat ramps in Poplar, North Carolina; and Erwin, Tennessee, where outfitters put in and take out rafts. CSX Transportation is using them as access points as it attempts to rebuild miles of railroad tracks lost to the flood. And that is yet another worry for the whitewater community.
Mannion said it is perplexing that he had to go through a long, arduous process to get a permit to run rafting trips on the Nolichucky from the Forest Service while he believes CSX has not been held to the same standard. Schmidt and his brother Mason Schmidt spent five years working to get a permit for the Nolichucky before they were able to run their first trips there last year. They have a large building with a taphouse that was heavily damaged by the flooding, but they managed to save a majority of their equipment.
Brannon Schmidt Matt Moses U.S. News Patrick Mannion Joe Hinrichs Sheila Holifield
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FEMA Housing Assistance to End for Hurricane Helene Survivors Amidst SnowstormFEMA's transitional housing assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors in Western North Carolina is set to end on Saturday, during a snowstorm with freezing temperatures, leaving many families concerned about their housing security. The agency is also closing disaster recovery centers until Monday due to the weather. Locals criticize FEMA's response and timing, while volunteers and generous donors continue to provide crucial support to those impacted by the storm.
Read more »
Appalachia's Resilience in the Face of Hurricane HeleneThis opinion piece reflects on the community response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, highlighting the resilience and self-reliance of Appalachia while criticizing the slow and inadequate federal government aid.
Read more »
New North Carolina governor vows swift Hurricane Helene recovery, work with GOPNorth Carolina Gov. Josh Stein kicked off his term in office Saturday by praising the resilience of the state's residents following Hurricane Helene.
Read more »
New North Carolina governor vows swift Hurricane Helene recovery, work with GOPNorth Carolina Gov. Josh Stein kicked off his term in office Saturday by praising the resilience of the state's residents following Hurricane Helene.
Read more »
New North Carolina governor vows swift Hurricane Helene recovery, work with GOPNorth Carolina Gov. Josh Stein kicked off his term in office Saturday by praising the resilience of the state's residents following Hurricane Helene.
Read more »
New North Carolina governor vows swift Hurricane Helene recovery, work with GOPNorth Carolina Gov. Josh Stein kicked off his term in office Saturday by praising the resilience of the state's residents following Hurricane Helene.
Read more »