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    Complaint

    134428
    WPC
    11/15/2024
    Email
    Stream Alteration
    27-NOV-2024 07:28AM

    Location based on SITE_ID

    Site ID
    183593
    Site
    Milepost Z 141.3 to NC state line
    Location
    LOW GAP RD
    City
    Erwin
    Description
    Railroad track
    County
    Unicoi
    EFO Name
    Johnson City
    Site Owner
    -

    Investigation Results

    Investigation Ongoing

    Complaint Description and Writeup

    The people of Erwin, TN have lost so much to Helene. Innumerable homes, lives, businesses and infrastructure. Weeks later, they are now needlessly losing more: the beautiful Nolichucky River Gorge that ends in their town. The river supports a whitewater rafting industry that is largely based in Erwin. Sadly, the massive floods that ripped through many other river communities rearranged rapids for the worse, making them unnavigable and/or dangerous. But not the Nolichucky. Early reports by those who were able to paddle the gorge showed that many of the now unrecognizable rapids have actually improved. Being a naturally flowing river, the Nolichucky becomes more difficult to raft as the water drops throughout the summer. But the ‘new Nolichucky’ has become more channelized, allowing a longer rafting season – and a bigger inflow to the Erwin economy.



    Tragically, that ‘new’ river that mother nature had carved is rapidly being destroyed by the careless reconstruction of the CSX rail line. I’d like to pause and state that everyone understands that the railroad needs to be built – and at a quick (but reasonable) pace. But CSX machinery is literally leveling many parts of the river. Please see the attached photos.







    The Army Corps of Engineers had stated that they are prohibited from mining soil and rock from anywhere below the high water line. That line could be a little difficult to define, but CSX continues to excavate below the current water line – which is definitely way below the high water line. Even though CSX has been informed of that mandate, they are repeatedly violating it over and over again every day. Please intervene and urge them to push the pause button. Then they can convene the Army Corps of Engineers, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, TDEC, the rafting industry and other local stakeholders to come up with a plan to responsibly rebuild the railroad – and at a reasonably speedy pace. Otherwise, this tragic and mitigatable damage will impact generations to come. More specifically, please ask those agencies to:

    o Stop excavating rock and other substrate from the river channel and banks immediately. The river channel is defined by the regular high water level, and is several feet higher than the current water level.

    o Stop work until an agency and public vetted plan for the work is approved in place that establishes best practices, permissible activities, and oversight to protect public values.

    o Minimize fill in the river channel, especially where rapids are adjacent to the railbed, through the use of retaining walls or other means.

    o Mitigate unavoidable impacts as the project proceeds.

    The Nolichucky Gorge also attracts private kayakers and rafters, hikers, sightseers and fishing persons. The fabled Appalachian Trail crosses the river where most of the CSX destruction started – immediately upstream of Erwin at Chestoa.

    Erwin and nearby communities have lost enough! Let’s not lose the beautiful Nolichucky Gorge. Thank you very much for your valuable time.



    Alex Zendel

    Knoxville, TN
    If you have any questions or comments, call us at (615) 532-0287 or email the TDEC Help Desk at BG-Help_Desk@tn.gov.