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Damage in 2014 to Trail of Tears in Coker Creek, Tenn., now repaired

Photo contributed by the U.S. Forest Service / Crews worked over the past several days to repair damage to the Trail of Tears in Coker Creek, Tenn., done by the federal agency in 2014. Here, from left, Western Carolina University archeologists Jeff Koch and Karen Biggert dig out soil that is being screened by Beau Carroll and Jessica Bittner of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Crews including federal and tribal officials and volunteers have spent the last several days repairing an estimated $2.4 million in damage.
Photo contributed by the U.S. Forest Service / Crews worked over the past several days to repair damage to the Trail of Tears in Coker Creek, Tenn., done by the federal agency in 2014. Here, from left, Western Carolina University archeologists Jeff Koch and Karen Biggert dig out soil that is being screened by Beau Carroll and Jessica Bittner of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Crews including federal and tribal officials and volunteers have spent the last several days repairing an estimated $2.4 million in damage. Photo contributed by the U.S. Forest Service / Crews worked over the past several days to repair damage to the Trail of Tears in Coker Creek, Tenn., done by the federal agency in 2014. Here, from left, Western Carolina University archeologists Jeff Koch and Karen Biggert dig out soil that is being screened by Beau Carroll and Jessica Bittner of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Crews including federal and tribal officials and volunteers have spent the last several days repairing an estimated $2.4 million in damage.

By Ben Benton 8 min read

COKER CREEK, Tenn. – The U.S. Forest Service has finished repairs on an estimated $2.4 million in damage the agency did to the Trail of Tears in Coker Creek, Tennessee, back in 2014 in a misguided attempt to discourage off-roaders and address erosion.

“We were scheduled to work through Friday,” U.S. Forest Service Southern Region coordinator for the Trail of Tears Melissa Twaroski said early last week at the Coker Creek Welcome Center north of the repair project area, but organizers were “surprised by the enthusiasm of the volunteers” to do the work that began Jan. 29.

The trail segment that was repaired will remain closed to the public for three years while it recovers, she said.

Crews made up of Forest Service personnel, members from all three federally recognized area American Indian tribes – the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee – joined forces with Western Carolina University and Cherokee archaeologists in the restorative work that was completed Monday.

“From Jan. 7 until about the 24th we had an archeological crew from Western Carolina University doing some pre-work out there,” Twaroski said. That project was led by archaeologist Dr. Brett Riggs, who has worked on the Trail of Tears for more than three decades.