Little fish, big comeback

The snail darter is a tiny fish that once halted an enormous project—Tellico Dam. TVA and its partners set to work making sure this endangered species was no longer endangered. Now, that milestone has been reached. Learn more about how it happened!

Speeding up the process – Section 26a permits

Any construction activity along or in the Tennessee River or its tributaries requires a Section 26a permit, often called a shoreline permit. Watershed Representative Jori Chatman and her colleagues assist applicants in obtaining their 26a permits. Discover what Jori’s day is like and how she works to make site visits happen sooner and get requests in the hands of TVA’s expert reviewers more readily.

TVA biologists find rare “livers of the rivers”

TVA biologists ended the summer by surveying the mussels of Elk River tailwaters — a 130-mile stream that flows from the base of Tims Ford Dam in Lincoln County, Tennessee to Alabama’s Wheeler Reservoir.

Hydro “remote control” system gets a reboot

TVA is investing $20 million to upgrade these systems that are crucial to operating our generating fleet and managing flood control.

Please – leave no trace when you camp

TVA’s campsites are popular attractions all year round, hosting thousands of visitors. But by leaving behind trash and litter, some campers spoil the experience for the next ones who arrive. Please help us curb littering and illegal dumping. Find out how.

Find your inspiration this autumn in the Valley

For as long as paint has existed, autumn has inspired artists as they blend just the right color for leaves drifting across the canvas. But a painting cannot imitate the sounds of geese flying south nor the stunning shafts of afternoon light on a fall day.

The Tennessee Valley, with its numerous streams and lakes are made for cool-weather camping, fishing or hunting. Others enjoy hiking through swirling orange and yellow leaves or trying to capture the splendor with a camera. TVA Natural Resources encourages you to find out what inspires you this fall, by discovering Explore TRV, the map guide of the Tennessee River Valley.

Colorful autumn hikes

The Tennessee Valley is at its best when fall brings out glorious color in the trees. Here are six spectacular hikes that even the most jaded leafers will absolutely love.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your paddles

Five new communities have been accepted to the Tennessee RiverTowns Program as part of the Tennessee RiverLine, North America’s next great regional trail system. As one of program’s benchmarks, these communities must each host two paddle events annually. Bottom line, ten, brand new paddling events will be available in the Valley in 2022. This is in addition to annual paddle events currently being hosted by those already in the program. Talk about a reason to travel the valley in 2022, this is it! Ladies and gentlemen, start your paddles!

Full-on fall camping weather is here

What do hardcore and fair-weather campers have in common? October is their favorite month to rough it in the deep woods or visit a Camp-Right Campground with everything from pup tents to a state-of-the-art RVs.

Along with the temperature, the humidity is perfect. And because October is the valley’s driest month, chances are good that every activity, from biking to fishing to photographing fall’s stunning wildflowers can be enjoyed in ideal weather. TVA Natural Resources encourages you to peruse the list of eco-friendly campgrounds that are proud to be certified Tennessee Valley Camp-Right Campgrounds.

P.S. Don’t forget to make your 2022 reservations!

Tennessee Valley Clean Marinas

Environmental excellence no matter the weather
It’s that time of year, when lake levels on many of TVA’s reservoirs are dropping in preparation for the heavy rains of winter. TVA prepares for the winter flood season by lowering the level of flood-storage reservoirs to make room for the runoff produced by winter storms. Discover more about the drawdown, and don’t forget to stop by a Tennessee Valley Clean Marina for information on how to safely navigate the river during fall and winter months. Get additional safe boating tips.

The Wayback Machine

Are you ready to pitch a tent? People come from near and far, year after year, to enjoy TVA’s campgrounds. Here, campers enjoy Rushing Creek on Kentucky Lake in August, 1966.