9/11 was just an excuse. They were looking for a reason to shut down bank access for a long time.
There were too many people doing drugs and breaking into cars in the parking lot, and there were too many fishermen absolutely trashing the place.
Guys would gather at the boils to fish for stripers and catfish and they would net a bucket full of shad. Then, when they were done, instead of throwing the unused bait back in the water, they'd discard it on the bank. I have no idea why.
I fished up there a few times a week back then, and I remember the big piles of gizzard shad all over the path very well. It drew tons of buzzards, along with the occasional raccoon and stray cat. The buzzards pooped everywhere. TVA put up signs one year saying
"Fishermen Do Not Throw Fish On Bank," but a few months later someone tore down the signs. They put them up a second time and those didn't last either.
I think people who ran the Plant were running very short on patience anyway, and when they had a reason to shut down public access without people getting mad, they jumped at the chance.
As usual, a few slob individuals pretty much ruined it for everybody else.
bd