NASHVILLE — Legislation designating an 8.3-mile stretch of North Chickamauga Creek and a 1.5-mile section of Cain Creek as a Tennessee Class I Natural River Area won approval in key state House and Senate committees Wednesday and should soon be cleared for floor action in both chambers.
Hamilton County lawmakers introduced the legislation this year at the request of the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy. The natural area lies mostly within Hamilton County and includes a portion of Sequatchie County that Gov. Bill Lee announced earlier this year would become a state park.
Granting it Class I Natural River Area status also provides it with additional protections.
"It meets all the requirements in the statute to be a Scenic River," House Finance Chairwoman Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, told Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee members as she presented her measure, House Bill 150.
Hazlewood then sought to clarify what she described as "perhaps some misunderstanding" about what land is affected by the bill.
"All of the land adjacent to this river is currently already public land except for one portion at the end of the designation, which is owned by a private party," she said, "and we do have a letter of support from that private party for this designation."
Hazlewood also said while the area is outside the city limits of nearby Soddy-Daisy, city commissioners there signed a letter supporting the designation.
"I think you pretty much addressed the question that I had," committee member Rep. Rusty Grills, R-Newbern, told Hazlewood. "Just to reiterate it, there will be no private property that will be affected without their agreeance?"
"That's correct," Hazlewood said.
The Class I Natural River Area designation can be awarded to rivers or sections of rivers that are free flowing, unpolluted, and with shorelines and scenic vistas that are essentially primitive and generally inaccessible except by trail.
"This is a beautiful part of our state," Hazlewood told representatives. "There is a little bit of everything along this 8.3-mile stretch. There's gorges, there's trout fishing, there's kayaking, there's blue hole swimming. It's just incredibly beautiful and something we want to preserve for our children and our grandchildren."
Calling serendipity a wonderful thing, Hazlewood pointed to Lee's inclusion in his proposed state budget $776,300 to establish the area, which currently is the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area as the North Chickamauga Creek State Park.
"It will give an opportunity for management, park rangers and that sort of thing along the scenic river," Hazelwood said.
The Scenic River designation "will really just enhance and fit in with that new state park," Hazlewood said.
Later Tuesday, Senate Finance Commitee Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson, moved the upper chamber's measure, Senate Bill 127, through the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources on a 9-0 vote.
Both bills are now being scheduled for floor action.
In February, Lee announced his plan to elevate the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge area to a state park during his State of the State address. His proposed fiscal year 2023-24 budget would provide a park manager, three park rangers and five other staffers for the 7,093-acre area that already serves as the trailhead for the Cumberland Trail State Park.
The governor also unveiled new state park designations in other areas of the state. He said his goal is to have the "most accessible park system in the nation, regardless of your ZIP code, physical ability or demographics."
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com.