Stewarding the Tennessee River Valley

With hundreds of thousands acres of land and water, stewarding the Tennessee River Valley takes intentional cooperation of agencies such as the TVA, non-profits, visitors, and communities along the waterways.  In 2020, social distancing practices for the COVID 19 pandemic has resulted in more visitations to isolated and less trafficked destinations.  With increased visitations human trash has also increased, spoiling these previously pristine locations.   The remote nature of the trails, waterfalls, and vistas means that “trail fairies” are not able to keep up with careless people who leave bottles, cans, food wrappers, and human waste along the trails.  Not only does trash contaminate the beauty of the scenery, but it also has a deleterious impact on native habits.  Human waste can befoul streams and attract predators.  

The TRV Stewardship Council routinely practices and promotes the principles of Outdoor Ethics and Leave No Trace.  We ask people to practice the R’s of “Tread Lightly” while hiking, biking, or hunting.  Always pack out what you pack in.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, Captain Bob Cherry cruised the 652 miles of the Tennessee River.  While on the waterways, he joined in as a river steward by collecting floating debris and properly disposing of it. Several years prior, Nashville photographer, John Guilder rowed the same waters and recorded his journey through photos and narrative to document the beauty and risks to the river.

If every hiker, biker, and boater would step up and become stewards, then the Tennessee River Valley watershed will be building towards a sustainable destination for recreation, community drinking water, and animal habitat. Join our cause by helping to steward the Valley