A year after Helene, a group of raft guides embarks on a river clean

A year after Helene, a group of raft guides embarks on a river clean-up mission

Rolando Arrieta

September 29, 2025 / 1:28 pm

ERWIN, Tenn. — When Amelia Taylor learned that whitewater outfitters near the Nolichucky River would remain closed this season, she had to figure out how to make up for the lost income.

So she went from being a professional whitewater river guide to being a "professional trash lady," Taylor says. "I'm very proud of it. It's an honest day's work."

Taylor has been a whitewater river guide in the area for about sixteen years. She says picking up trash along the river is not terrible despite the occasional bump, scrape and bruise.

"I'm kind of a dumpster diver, so this job is fun for me 'cause I get to find useful things sometimes," she says. "In some ways, I hon