Floodplain Statement of Findings

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has released a Floodplain Statement of Findings for a proposed project to improve the Oconaluftee River Trail. Through this project, the park would improve connectivity with the gateway community of Cherokee, increase accessibility, repair riverbank erosion, and enhance safety and the visitor experience. The Oconaluftee River Trail is a 1.6-mile-long pedestrian and bike trail that connects to the parks Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum to downtown Cherokee. More than 100,000 people use the trail each year. Portions of the trail are within the Oconaluftee River floodplain. The Floodplain Statement of Findings documents how the National Park Service evaluated flood risks and potential impacts of the trail improvements on the floodplain. The statement is available for review through September 7, 2026.

Document Content:

GRSM321788_OconalufteeRiverTrail_FSOF_AppendicesIncluded_20260821.pdf   (42.2 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.