The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council Celebrates World Fish Migration Day 2020
The Tennessee River Valley is known for its aquatic diversity and tournament fishing lakes. On October 24, we recognize the importance of conserving aquatic habitat and the work of the Tennessee Valley Authority for their management of the almost 41,000 square miles watershed basin comprised of streams, rivers, and lakes.
Annually, World Fish Migration Day is celebrated as a way to raise awareness of migratory fish and threats to their migration on waterways around the world. This 2020 event will be held on October 24th, with a theme of “Love Flows”. Organized by the World Fish Migration Foundation, this one-day global initiative calls attention to the needs of migratory fish to ensure that more natural river networks remain connected, and those already fragmented can be restored.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) plays an important role in balancing waterways to protect the health of the aquatic basin. Dating back to the 1930’s the TVA was legislatively charged with controlling devastating flooding in the Valley and to manage the Tennessee River for navigation. This resulted in the building of dams that impeded the natural flow of water. To correct the delicate balance between the tailwaters and the reservoirs, TVA developed a method to manage the temperature of water to support native fish species below the reservoirs.
Recently outdoor angler and writer, Etta Pettijohn caught up with TVA Engineer, Jessica Brazille to learn more about how the “hot/ cold” system at Tims Ford Dam regulates the Elk River downstream. “The success of the program is critical to fish habitat and species.” said Etta. “The Tennessee and Cumberland River systems have the highest number of rare fish species in the country, with the Upper Elk alone having nine federally listed endangered aquatic species, including eight mussel species.” To learn more click here.
When you take to the rivers to fish or to simply enjoy the beauty of the waterways, take a moment to appreciate the ongoing stewardship activities that protect and conserve the aquatic life just below the surface of the water.
Celebrate Public Land: National Public Lands Day 2020
National Public Lands Day 2020 has even more to celebrate this year. With the passage of the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act, public lands will receive some of the much-needed restoration that has gone unfunded for almost a generation.
Here in the Tennessee River Valley, public land, “for the people” has been a way of life for over a century. In August of 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the bill which established the National Park Service. The mission of this new agency was “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
By 1940, President Franklin D Roosevelt had established the Tennessee Valley Authority’s role to include a role in managing public lands for recreation. In his address to Congress dated January 15, 19040, President Roosevelt stated.” Recreation in its broad sense is a definite factor in the improvement of the bodies and minds of our future citizens.” Today, the TVA manages 293,000 acres of land that is free for the public to enjoy.
“If we are successful here we can march on, step by step; in a like development of other great natural territorial units within our borders.” Message to Congress Suggesting the Tennessee Valley Authority
April 10, 1933
A Habitat at Work- Pollinators Welcome
The landscape of the Tennessee River Valley is pure Appalachia, beginning in the ancient mountains of the east to the fertile bottomlands of the west. Once a thriving ecosystem for pollinators, the lands have been re-shaped by economic growth leading to the loss of thousands of acres of habitat. Where grasslands, prairies, and savannas originally dominated the landscape, businesses, homes and row farms have replaced the native habitats and plant species, leading to smaller pollinator populations of birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, small mammals, and honey bees.
What’s the Buzz?
This loss of habitat has both an economic and ecosystem impact. According to the Pollinator Partnership’s website, “Somewhere between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need help with pollination. They (sic) need pollinators. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species and more than 1200 crops. That means that 1 out of every three bites of food you eat is there because of pollinators. If we want to talk dollars and cents, pollinators add 217 billion dollars to the global economy and honey bees alone are responsible for between 1.2 and 5.4 billion dollars in agricultural productivity in the United States. In addition to the food that we eat, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from severe weather, and support other wildlife.” The Tennessee River Valley’s economy depends on agriculture production and secondary market activities of processing and distribution.
Increasing the Buzz…..and we don’t mean the Corona Effect
To combat the loss habitat, disparate partners can be found working together to restore native habitats. One such project is the work of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in restoring grasslands in their power line easements. During the 1930’s TVA brought electrification to rural communities by building out miles and miles of transmission lines. The building of these transmission corridors resulted in the removal of the dense forest stands that then converted back to native grasslands. The restoration impact was measurable, bringing about TVA’s interest in transforming their right of ways from pesticide spraying to working native habitats. In 2019, TVA partnered with Austin Peay and the Southeast Grass Initiative to restore a transmission corridor near Clarksville, TN. Students assisted with planting native grasses on a cold January day with a goal to create a seed bank of native grasses that can then be shared with other similar projects.
Another important partnership in combating the loss of pollinators is the bee keepers such as Diane Ravens, owner of the Appalachian Bee Farm in Ocoee, TN. Bee keepers are bee cultivators helping to increase the health and population of honey bees. They often assume roles as educators, protectors, and advocate for bees. In the Tennessee River Valley, agriculture is still one of the top economic industries and bees are essential to crop production. Diane, a self-described reluctant bee farmer offers services that extend beyond making honey or keeping her hives buzzing. She provides pollinator services to local farmers growing food crops in the region. So when you enjoy that first crisp apple in the fall, you need to thank not only the farmer, but the bees and the bee keepers who all contributed to the apple growing process.
Creating your own Buzz
Many of us are home garden enthusiasts. By taking small easy steps, each of us can help increase habitat for pollinators and improve our own garden yields, be that showy flowers or a luscious heirloom tomatoes. Begin by planting a few native species in your own garden. In the Tennessee River Valley, black eyed Susan, lilacs, bee balm, coneflowers, asters, hostas, zinnias, and sedum will seduce bees to visit your garden. Think seasonally, for a display of flowers that will attract bees beginning in the spring throughout the fall.
Avoid the use of gardening chemicals in your pollinator garden. When you plant native species, the plants will root and create a natural weed barrier. Your garden will flourish without your constant attention. Best of all, the plants will bloom year after year. Add a few herbs such as thyme or chives, for an even more pollinator activity. Your herbs can then be harvested and safely used without fear of pesticide contamination.
Share your harvest and knowledge with your neighbors. Make that “good neighbor fence” an herbaceous row of plants that will attract pollinators and provide a colorful display sure to be appreciated by the entire neighborhood.
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