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Discover the Tennessee River

Discover the Tennessee River

The Tennessee River is a long, curvy river that starts near Knoxville, Tennessee, and flows into the Ohio River in Kentucky. The river winds its way 652 miles through east Tennessee into north Alabama, up through west Tennessee and into Kentucky. There, it joins the Ohio River.

Ocoee

TVA and the Tennessee River

The U.S. government created the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1933 to help the people living in the region. One of TVA’s biggest jobs was to take care of the Tennessee River and use it to help people.

River Forecast Center

TVA relies on the people working at the River Forecast Center to help manage the Tennessee River. The River Forecast Center is open all day, every day. It's located in Knoxville, Tennessee. But the center controls dams from North Carolina to Kentucky. The River Forecast Center makes sure all the dams are working together.

The people there:
  • Carefully study weather forecasts
  • Monitor the need for electricity
  • Watch water levels for drinking water supply
  • Track water quality for fish

The River has a Lot of Jobs!

TVA helps manage the river for all these different benefits. It’s a challenge! Let’s explore how the Tennessee River helps us every day.

Powerhouse icon

Power Houses: Dams along the river generate electricity. TVA operates these dams to power homes, schools and businesses.

Flood control icon

Flood Control: Dams also help control how quickly water rushes through the river. This helps protect communities from flooding.

River highway icon

River Highway: Big boats called barges use the river like a highway, moving things like coal, crops and building materials from city to city.

Clean water icon

Clean Water: Many communities rely on the Tennessee River and the man-made lakes along the river for drinking water. It’s important to manage how much water is in the river and reservoirs so that people have water to drink.

Fishing icon

Fun and Adventure: People love visiting the river to go fishing, ride boats, swim and camp on the shores

Wildlife home icon

Home Sweet Home: The river is home to many different species of fish, birds and other wildlife, and plants and trees. It's an important habitat that needs to be protected.

Managing the Tennessee River for Multiple Benefits Recreation Saving Chattanooga
Build a mini dam (pdf download coming soon) Lesson Plan: Aquatic Biomes (Grade 3) Lesson Plan: Aquatic Biodiversity in the Tennessee River (Grade 6) Lesson Plan: Biodiversity (High School)
River Forecast Center during Helene Managing the River for Different Benefits

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