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Protection
Keeping the Wild Alive since 1966.
We support the legal and long-term protection of wild places and waters by preventing or mitigating harmful activities, and safeguarding these environments for their ecological, recreational, and cultural value.
Since its founding in 1966, TCWP has led efforts to protect the Obed River and its surrounding wilderness. We were instrumental in stopping the proposed Nemo Dam and securing the Obed’s federal designation as a National Wild and Scenic River in 1976—one of the earliest and most significant conservation victories in Tennessee.
But our work didn’t stop there. For decades, we’ve fought damaging development proposals, advocated for stronger protections, and helped secure more than 500 acres of land now preserved within the Obed corridor. TCWP has served as a conservation buyer, secured federal appropriations, and worked hand-in-hand with the National Park Service to ensure key tracts were permanently protected. We currently hold several properties in the Obed WSR watershed that we continue to steward until they can be transferred for long-term conservation. Read founder Liane Russell’s story (How the Obed was saved from being turned into a reservoir and became a National Wild & Scenic River) in the library.
For more than five decades, TCWP played a leading role in protecting the Big South Fork, Clear Fork, and New River systems, beginning with our successful opposition to the proposed Devils Jumps Dam in the late 1960s. Through public hearings, field outings, and detailed reports, we helped lay the groundwork for the creation of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
Our efforts continued long after its designation, including advocacy for land acquisitions, pollution control, and opposition to damaging mining and development proposals. TCWP has also worked closely with partner organizations and the National Park Service to support land protection, water quality improvements, and ecological restoration efforts across the watershed. Today, Big South Fork stands as a testament to persistent grassroots advocacy and long-term protection of a treasured landscape. Read BSF Timeline in library.
The Oak Ridge Reservation is the largest remaining contiguous forest ecosystems in the Tennessee Valley. TCWP partners with Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation (AFORR) a locally-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1999 to support the preservation of the natural resources of the Department of Energy’s 20,000-plus-acre Oak Ridge Reservation Research Park—for the long-term benefit of DOE, the local community, and national and international interests. TCWP and AFORR work together to support protection of natural resources on the ORR.
TCWP is working to convert a 41-mile stretch of abandoned rail line into a scenic hike / bicycle trail connecting Oneida to Devonia through the New River Valley. This Rails-to-Trails project would provide public access to stunning landscapes, connect nearby parks and communities, and support local economies through sustainable recreation. As the holder of the interim trail use agreement, TCWP is helping to safeguard the corridor for future rail or trail use and is actively collaborating with local, state, and national partners to bring the vision to life.
TCWP is a partner in the Pellissippi Blueway initiative, a developing water trail that spans from Norris Dam to Melton Hill Dam. The Blueway highlights the recreational, ecological, and historical richness of Melton Hill Lake and its surrounding lands. As part of a coalition of nonprofits, agencies, and local advocates, TCWP supports efforts to improve access, promote stewardship, and protect the scenic and cultural value of this unique corridor.