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Big South Fork – Long-term Impacts (1966–2024)
Across nearly six decades, TCWP consistently advocated for ecological protection, water quality improvements, and strategic land acquisitions around the Big South Fork, Clear Fork, and New River systems. Their[Read More]
How the Obed got saved from being turned into a reservoir and became a National Wild & Scenic River
The dam proposal. The superb wild gorges of the Obed, Clear Creek and Daddys Creek that increasing numbers of people are now getting to know and love came very[Read More]
How a Trail Sparked a Movement: The Legacy of North Ridge
Did you know one of Oak Ridge’s greatest natural treasures was built to protect the city’s greenbelts? In this inspiring article, TCWP founder Liane Russell shares how the North Ridge Trail became both a beloved woodland path and a powerful tool for local environmental advocacy. Learn how a single trail helped grow a citywide conservation movement — and why it still matters today.
Preserving the Prairie: The Cedar Barrens Story
How did a 5.76-acre patch of land in the heart of Oak Ridge become one of Tennessee’s rarest natural areas? The Oak Ridge Cedar Barrens supports three state-listed plant species and is one of the last remaining examples of a cedar barrens ecosystem in the region. Through decades of stewardship, formal management plans, and reaffirmed public commitments, TCWP and its partners have worked to restore and protect this fragile habitat. Dive into this collection of foundational documents to understand the ecological significance, history, and ongoing care of the Barrens.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
- Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area: History, Significance, and Management, published in January of 2003
- A Reaffirmation of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Natural Area Registration Agreement to Protect Oak Ridge Barrens,” signed in April of 2003.
- Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area Management Plan of 2014.
Where History Meets Habitat: The Story of Worthington Cemetery
First settled in 1795 by Revolutionary War veteran Samuel Worthington, this unique site in Oak Ridge holds both cultural and ecological significance. Once threatened by dumping and industrial zoning, the land has been transformed—through TCWP’s efforts—into a TVA-designated ecological study area and sanctuary for native species. Learn how a family cemetery became a symbol of local restoration, resilience, and remembrance.
Preserving the Wild Beauty of White’s Creek
What began as a bold suggestion to TVA in 1980 became a lasting legacy of conservation. Nestled along one of the most untouched stretches of the Watts Bar Reservoir, White’s Creek Small Wild Area now protects 171 acres of forests, ravines, and lake views—thanks to TCWP’s decades-long advocacy and land acquisition efforts. Explore how this hidden haven was saved, trail by trail, through vision, persistence, and partnership.
In 1998, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, in alliance with the Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC), adopted the Alley Ford segment of the Cumberland Trail. TCWP has sponsored annual trail maintenance events on this portion of the trail since then. The entire Cumberland Trail will eventually extend over 200 miles from near Chattanooga to Cumberland Gap. The Obed Segment, which is projected to be over 17 miles long when completed, is being developed in two portions, one starting at Nemo Bridge and the other at Devils Breakfast Table.
The 2.5 mile Alley Ford segment runs through the Obed Wild and Scenic River from Nemo Bridge to Alley Ford. The trail travels by a rock house and interesting rock formations and on top of a strip mine berm, a remnant of the coal mining industry in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The berm is composed of the material that was stripped off by big machinery to reach the coal.
The annual trail maintenance outings, generally held in February, include removing some logs and brush from along the trail and general trail maintenance (cleaning out water bars). We usually save enough time to hike up to Alley Ford to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Obed River.
Tennessee’s wetlands are vital for clean drinking water, flood protection, and wildlife habitat. Yet, proposed legislation (HB0541/SB0670) would strip protections from 300,000–450,000 acres of wetlands, leaving them vulnerable to destruction. Without state safeguards, our communities face increased flooding, pollution, and loss of irreplaceable natural areas. Protecting Tennessee’s wetlands means protecting our water, homes, and future.
TCWP mobilized members to contact legislators to oppose this bill. It passed with amendments.
Tennessee’s Scenic Rivers provide clean water, vital wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation. HB0895/SB0725 threatens these waterways by removing the two-mile buffer between Class II Scenic Rivers and landfills, increasing the risk of pollution and habitat destruction.
For decades, the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act has safeguarded these rivers. Weakening protections now puts water quality, wildlife, and public health at risk.
TCWP mobilized members to contact legislators and this bill died for the time being.