Boone Lake Association cleaning storm debris

PINEY FLATS, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Boone Lake Association (BLA) is cleaning up after Hurricane Helene left logs, building materials and other debris in the waters of the Watauga River channel.

In a release, BLA said the board discussed how the organization can best respond to the Erwin, Elizabethton and North Carolina areas after the flooding.

The board concluded the best help they could offer “is to stand in the gap of the Watauga River overflow into Boone Lake.”

BLA said its crew “cannot stretch an almost ‘mile-long’ boom like TVA is doing for the Nolichucky River inflows into Douglas Lake. “

The organization added it will continue its efforts to clear Watauga inflows using the Winged Deer Park and Pickens Bridge locations with the help of Johnson City Solid Waste and Public Work brush trucks.

BLA said the Watauga River channel will continue to see debris “until next summer’s full-pool cleans the system.”

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