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“Public
power’s unique and enduring purpose is to serve the public
interest. At TVA, we’ve redoubled our efforts to protect
those interests by convening and facilitating more ongoing discussions
among our stakeholders so that their changing values and priorities
remain the foundation for our business activities.”
—Ron
Loving, TVA’s
Vice President of Program Initiatives
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TVA has long been
recognized as a world-class leader for its river-management system.
The methods and tools used by TVA in the integrated development and
operation of the Tennessee River are known internationally as the “TVA
model.”
In the past year
TVA took several steps to further strengthen its system of managing
flood control, river navigation, and public lands and waters in the
Tennessee Valley. In February TVA merged into one organization all responsibilities
for managing the river system, including hydropower operations and river
management. That organization, River System Operations and Environment,
is led by Executive Vice President Kate Jackson, who also serves as
TVA’s Environmental Executive.
Managing
a Major U.S. Waterway
Since
its inception, TVA has been a leader in flood control, navigation, and
recreation management.
The Tennessee River
and its tributaries make up the fifth-largest river system in the nation.
In managing this system, TVA fulfills flood-control, navigation, and
recreation commitments that greatly benefit the regional economy.
TVA’s flood-control
efforts annually prevent an estimated $138 million of potential damage
in the Tennessee Valley, as well as another $9 million of potential
losses along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
TVA also is responsible
for maintaining and managing a safe and efficient waterway that totals
800 miles of commercially navigable river. This includes a 652-mile
main channel from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Paducah, Kentucky, and 148
miles of tributary channels. Transportation benefits are estimated to
total more than $500 million annually.
In addition, the
Tennessee River system comprises a vast resource for outdoor recreation.
The demand for recreational use of TVA reservoirs, which have a total
surface area of 480,000 acres and 11,000 miles of shoreline, has steadily
increased over the years. TVA operates about 100 recreation areas that
include boat-launching ramps, picnic facilities, nature trails, wildlife-viewing,
swimming, shoreline fishing, camping areas, and other amenities. Many
of the Valley’s rivers and streams also offer fishing, canoeing,
and white-water boating. Water-based recreation on the Tennessee River
system generates millions of dollars annually for the region’s
economy.
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