Nolichucky Recovery - Preliminary Findings

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Advisory Committee

September 9, 2025

Tim Johnson • Director of Outdoor Recreation Planning

Caroline Stahlschmidt • Senior Project Manager

Project Background:

The Nolichucky Recovery Initiative is a planning effort that seeks to shape a shared vision for the future of the Nolichucky River corridor within Unicoi County — supporting restoration, recreation, and long-term community, and environmental health.

Project Oversight Committee

● Unicoi County Economic and Community Development

● Erwin Utilities

● United States Forest Service

● American Whitewater

● Blue Ridge Paddling

● Nolichucky Restoration Project

● Town of Unicoi

● Unicoi County

● Unicoi County Care and Share Ministry

● Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce

DISCOVERY & ENGAGEMENT

Previous Plan Review

UnicoiTNRecreational TrailAssessment(2025)

&ErwinBike+Pedestrian MasterPlan(2019)

TennesseeOutdoorsVision2030(2022)

ConsolidatedComprehensive LandUsePlanTownofErwin(2018)

ErwinBikeandPedestrian Plan(2021)

County,TennesseeTourism AssetDevelopmentPlan(2018)

Desktop Analysis

Social Media and Online Engagement

OPEN JULY 15 - SEPTEMBER 15

TOTAL RESPONSES

As of Monday, September 8th

ZIP CODES REPRESENTED

Survey Results

*262 Responses 17 Skipped

37650 - Erwin, TN (111 Respondents)

37692 - Unicoi, TN (17 Respondents)

37604 / 37601 / 37615 - Johnson City, TN (24 Respondents)

37659 - Jonesborough, TN (13 Respondents)

37657 - Flag Pond, TN (5 Respondents)

28705 - Bakersville, NC (3 Respondents)

37620 - Bristol, TN (3 Respondents)

28806 - Asheville, NC (3 Respondents)

28740 - Green Mountain, NC (3 Respondents)

from Tennessee ● 50.8% Respondents from Unicoi County, TN ● 15.6% from Washington County, TN 12.2% from North Carolina

Demographic Comparison

Demographic Comparison

Demographic Comparison

Unicoi County

Unicoi

Unicoi

Demographic Comparison

Survey Results

18.3%

of Households with

Children Under 18 in Unicoi County, TN

Survey Results

Survey Results

Survey Results

Public places need to be clearly marked in order to maintain privacy for those who live by and own river property to use for their own families and friends.

Improving safety and security in the sense of cleaning up the river and educating the public

We want it just like it was.

We need the rafting available for all on the Nolichucky!

It's a whitewater river. Do not add artificial features. Keep the river as natural as possible.

A destination river park seems like a must for our town. A green space for all people to have as a destination to recreate, swim, hang out and of course kayak. Riverparks ….. are perfect examples of using the river as a backdrop to create a space for all to enjoy, including walking trails, soccer fields, skate park, etc.

It would be really nice to have more public access to be able to fish!

Plant some trees along the river banks.

I think something to consider in the rebuild is what makes the Nolichucky great prior to the storm--a somewhat untouched riverbed in an incredible gorge. The inaccessibility of it via road and other means--mixed with the easy technical nature of it (compared to other gorges of its size) made it one of my favorite places to share with beginner river-goers. It has a wow-factor that is hard to get in a Class 3 setting.

My dad is 94 and he loves to go places to watch people have a good time. Would love some easily accessible areas.

Restoration, preservation, conservation

Put your trails and your picnic tables in, but don't forget to add the additional funding for trash pickup and additional policing.

It’s good the way it is.

The addition of greenways, picnic areas, playgrounds or parks would be great. I think that creating these spaces would increase appreciation for the river and would ultimately inspire more people to care about the river.

The river is dangerous and needs to be treated as such. It's not a public pool and shouldn't be 'developed' with added 'art' for the sake of tourism. The river will heal itself.

Please, please, please, do not try to commercialize our river.

River and swimming access, family wading areas, trash cans and up keep, wildlife trails and tags that identify native plants etc, rafting access.

Picnic area and public access/walking/parking area

Public restrooms and proper river gages.

Public access for fishing spots or camping

Getting the linear trail redone and adding some bathrooms along the trail would be great as well as other gathering areas near it.

Improved free public access in more locations for swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, baptisms, etc. would be great.

Things that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy together.

We need restrooms, changing rooms, picnic areas, parking, and signage, outfitters, outdoor store for hikers, boaters and hunters, restaurants/food, as well as river access, hiking trails along the river and campgrounds.

Special event and music venues

Fishing piers!

Focus Groups

● 16 Organizations represented in 4 Focus Groups

● Environmental/Outdoor Recreation

● Rafting Outfitters

● Economic Development

● Community Development

Focus Groups

What We Heard

Economic Development

Challenges

● Limited options to eat, drink, and hang-out near the river

● Building a outdoor recreation community and economy in an area that is not “big on fitness”

Priorities

● Get outfitters back on the water.

● Promote better habitat for fish - smallmouth bass.

● Workforce housing and affordable housing

● Greenways, parks, and trails

Community Development

Challenges

● Limited local buy-in for the outdoor economy

● A shared vision doesn’t exist - state and local; political, staff, and community members

● Mixed view of the river by community members

Needs

● Access and accessibility

● Large gathering spaces - open greens, amphitheaters, and event space

● Trail connections

● Athletic fields

Concerns

● Future maintenance needs

Focus Groups

Rafting Outfitters

Challenges

What We Heard

● Inconsistent water levels throughout the season

● All river users (commercial, kayaks, tubes, etc.) are lumped into the same category by the local community.

● Lack of education around river safety

Priorities

● “Open” the river

● Restore the riverbanks

● Gain political support and willingness to support outdoor recreation and drive tourism.

Opportunities

● The river is different, but there is a big opportunity to market the “new” river and new rapids and the way the river changed.

● Put thought into the corridor from Chestoa to the Lower Noli takeout - place rocks to improve navigation and appearance.

● River parks create equitable access to the river for everyone.

Focus Groups

Environment/Outdoor Recreation

Challenges

● A shared vision doesn’t exist - politically

What We Heard

● Division exists around promoting outdoor recreation in general - not wanting “more rafters” or outsiders.

● Low % of population is in the workforce, high #s of senior citizens and people with disabilities

Priorities

● Bank stabilization, rebuilding the soils, restoring the corridor

● Trash clean-up - due to flooding

● Gain political support and willingness to support outdoor recreation and drive tourism.

Needs

● River access

● Riverfront park with trail, river access, playgrounds, picnic areas - destination for community members and families (more than just Chestoa)

● Encourage diversity of river users - tubing, fishing, camping

What does success look like?

● Rewrite “our” story about the riverpre-flood/post-flood

● Use and activity far exceeds pre-flood levels

What We Heard

Why is the Nolichucky important to the region?

● Accessible and scenic

● Provides experiences for many different ability levels - beginner to experienced

● The river affects agriculture, outdoor recreation, and wildlife/nature.

Challenges

● Community engagement - including more people in the conversation

● Local leadership needs to be more proactive and visible in lifting up the outdoor industry

Opportunities

● Chestoa to the Lower Noli takeout river section is heavily disturbed and can be built back better.

Priorities

● Access

● Education

● Engaging individuals that have no interest in paddling

● Rebuilding the Chestoa Pike bridge/AT

● Reopening the river to commercial use

● Wayfinding Signage - AT, Erwin, Nolichucky

● Wildlife and ecosystem restoration

What We Heard

Recovery

● There has always been fear around the river, now it’s painful.

● The community needs to heal and have appreciation/love for the river. They need to mourn losses and grieve.

● The health of our people, wildlife, and agriculture is dependant on the health of the watershed.

● The river offers a spiritual connection for the community, a place for adventure and solace.

● The community needs to collectively lift up the river in a more deliberate way.

What does success look like?

● Safe and usable space for everyone that people want to come visit and brings economic development to the community.

● A thriving community around the river with a variety of opportunities for ALL.

● Community members and the younger generation taking pride in and feeling ownership of the river.

Landowner Engagement

● 11 Landowners Contacted

● 8 Landowners Engaged

● DbD contacted landowners whose property may have potential for:

○ Development/redevelopment of public outdoor recreation opportunities.

Flood mitigation and streambank restoration measures.

Our design team is working with WILLING landowners to complete conceptual design work as part of the Nolichucky Recovery Initiative.

Emerging Themes

Community Parks & Outdoor Recreation Flood Resiliency

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Advisory Committee

September 9, 2025

Tim Johnson • Director of Outdoor Recreation Planning

Caroline Stahlschmidt • Senior Project Manager