What is a Watershed
A watershed is the land that catches rain and snow. That water then flows into creeks, rivers and reservoirs.
The Tennessee River watershed is huge! It covers more than 40,000 square miles and touches seven states! It includes rivers like the Clinch River, Duck River and Hiwassee River.
Did you know?
TVA manages more than 11,000 miles of shoreline along the Tennessee River and the smaller streams that flow into it.
That’s a lot of shoreline!
How TVA Protects the Watershed
TVA’s Watershed Teams help keep the water clean.
Who is on a watershed team? Teams include experts like:
- Biologists
- Ecologists
- Environmental Scientists
- Engineers
These teams work with partners to help care for the watershed in their area.
Partners include:
- Businesses
- Local and state government
- Volunteers
- Schools
- And you!
Saving Water
There's lots of things you can do at home and school to help save water and keep it clean.
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or washing your hands.
- Take shorter showers.
- Watch for dripping faucets or running toilets. Tell a grown-up so that it can be fixed. A slow drip from a faucet can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water a day!
- Don't flush things like plastic bags, wipes or medicine. It's not just bad for your pipes. These things can end up in the water supply.
- Use a reuseable water bottle.
- Use a reusable bag when shopping.
- Don't litter — make sure trash goes in a trash can.
- Don't pour paint or chemicals — like bug spray — out onto the ground.
- Catch rainwater and use it to water your plants and garden.
- Plant native plants and grasses. These types of plants use less water than other kinds.
Be a Watershed Hero
Help TVA keep our water clean! Answer the questions to see if you have what it takes.