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Tennessee Bulletin Number 190-08-2March 27, 2008 Subject: ECS – State Scenic Rivers And NRCS Programs Purpose: To inform Tennessee NRCS personnel of responsibilities when planning and applying conservation practices affecting State Scenic Rivers. Expiration Date: September 30, 2009 Tennessee has sections of 13 rivers with the State Scenic River designation. See enclosure for list of State Scenic Rivers. Only one National Wild and Scenic River, the Obed River, is found in Tennessee. It is located in Morgan and Cumberland Counties. Tennessee’s State Scenic Rivers Program is authorized under the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (TCA 11-13-101). This Act states, “The Tennessee General Assembly finds that certain rivers of Tennessee possess outstanding scenic, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife, botanical, historical, archaeological and other scientific and cultural values of great present and future benefit to the people. It is the intent of the Tennessee General Assembly that in all planning for the use and development of water and related land resources, consideration shall be given by all local, state, and federal agencies involved to potential scenic river areas, and all river basin and project plan reports should discuss any such potential.” The Act states that in administering the Scenic Rivers Program, the Commissioner may seek financial and technical assistance from other state and federal agencies and that the Commissioner shall cooperate with other state and federal agencies for the purpose of eliminating or diminishing the pollution of waters within Scenic Rivers and to preserve their natural stream flow and ecological conditions. NRCS funded activities on State Scenic Rivers should consider the above, and should ensure that such activities are consistent with the intent of the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act. To help address proper coordination of this, any activities considered or proposed on any State Scenic River should be coordinated with your area biologist in advance. Many NRCS funded practices can indeed be beneficial to the objective of eliminating or diminishing the pollution of waters within Scenic Rivers, particularly practices such as livestock exclusion, riparian buffers, alternative watering sources, etc., and generally are encouraged along Scenic Rivers. However, some practices, such as individual private river access points and stream crossings, could have adverse ecological and/or aesthetic impacts to Scenic Rivers. Prior to providing technical or design assistance to any project potentially funded by or assisted by the NRCS, please coordinate with the appropriate area biologist in advance. More information is available on Tennessee’s Scenic Rivers at: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/scenicrivers/ Division of Natural Areas Director (615) 532-0431 For further information concerning Tennessee Scenic Rivers, contact Carol Chandler, Biologist, located at the Gallatin Service Center.
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