In March of 2026, at our request, a court dismissed a case brought by American Whitewater and American Rivers that sought to protect the Nolichucky River from riverbed rock mining. The suit was filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) against the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Army Corps of Engineers over their acquiescence to a railroad company’s active quarrying of rock from the riverbed to use in the reconstruction of its adjacent damaged rail line following Hurricane Helene. When these agencies failed to act, the state of North Carolina halted the riverbed quarrying activity before it damaged the valuable rapids and habitat in the heart of the Nolichucky Gorge. The reconstruction work is now largely complete, making the litigation no longer relevant.
A Win for the River
The riverbed in the core five miles of the Nolichucky Gorge was protected from planned rock mining, thanks to citizens speaking out against the damage, the heightened scrutiny that litigation provided, and meaningful action by the State of North Carolina. The Nolichucky Gorge made it through this ordeal and remains a beautiful and biologically diverse place. No longer an industrial construction zone, eagles, fish, and bears once again inhabit the now-quiet gorge. The rapids, totally reshaped by the hurricane, are fun, challenging, and more channelized, offering an exceptional recreational experience. The river is once again becoming a refuge for the public and aquatic species alike.
Illegal Pop-Up Quarry is Polluting the River
When the riverbed mining was halted, a large illegal quarry was carved out of the mountainside near the Nolichucky Gorge Put-In. When told to cease operations of the illegal mine, the owners offered to pay the maximum $5,000 daily fine instead. The North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ) initiated an enforcement action against the mine last fall, and the court ordered the mine to cease operations and submit a reclamation plan. Restoration efforts were minimal, and sediment has poured into the Nolichucky from the quarry ever since. Both SELC and the NCDOJ are keeping legal pressure on the quarry owner to restore the site and reduce the impacts to the river.
Public Access Nearly Restored
The Forest Service allowed the railroad to dump massive amounts of fill material on the public access area and occupy it for construction purposes for over a year following the hurricane. After keeping the site closed for a logging project, the Forest Service is now working to reclaim the Nolichucky Gorge Put-In at Poplar, NC, with the stated goal of opening the site by sometime in late spring. When this happens, public access will finally be restored to the Nolichucky River following the closure of the site for over a year and a half. While access to the gorge will be a work in progress for a while, the re-opening of the put-in will be a major milestone in the recovery of the Nolichucky Gorge.
Gratitude for River Defenders
We would like to thank all the local paddlers who did such an exceptional job speaking up for the Noli, SELC for helping mount a legal challenge, and the State of North Carolina for stepping in to halt the riverbed mining. American Whitewater’s work was supported by our members, and we’d like to give a special shout out to Airtight Inflatables for raising funds for our Noli work. Stopping a powerful railroad corporation from plundering the public’s river was a Herculean task, especially considering the people who defended the river were still reeling from hurricane damage. The river is better for our collective efforts!