Two Proposed Tennessee Projects Highlighted as part of America's Great Outdoors Initiative

Projects Promote Outdoor Recreation and Conservation

NASHVILLE – The United States Department of the Interior today announced two Tennessee projects that will be highlighted as part of the America’s Great Outdoors initiative report, which is expected to be released in the coming days.  Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the highlighted projects will be the potential establishment of a new wildlife refuge in the Paint Rock River watershed and extending the Riverwalk in Chattanooga.

 

“Each of these projects help support a high quality of life for Tennesseans,” Gov. Bill Haslam said.  “They provide opportunities for healthy activities, they conserve or rehabilitate important lands and foster tourism and job growth.  I’m pleased to see they will be included in the America’s Great Outdoors initiative report.”

 

The Paint Rock River Watershed is located in Tennessee and Alabama.  The Paint Rock River is a tributary of the Tennessee River, and is one of the most biologically diverse freshwater systems in the world.  The river and its tributaries support about 100 species of fish and 45 different mussel species, two of which are found nowhere else in the world.  Government agencies and nongovernmental organizations have been partnering in an effort to protect critical lands in the watershed and support a new wildlife refuge.  This would not only provide protection, but also enhanced river access for recreation and eco-tourism.

 

The Chattanooga Riverwalk is an effort by the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County to create a 20-mile greenway along the Tennessee River.  Currently, more than 13 miles are built, and the Riverwalk has been critical to helping make Chattanooga a popular place for environmental and outdoor recreation.  The proposed extension would run from Ross’s Landing downtown to the base of Lookout Mountain.  It would link economically-disadvantaged neighborhoods to the greenway and provide access to healthy activities for citizens of West Chattanooga. The greenway extension is also proposed to cross several industrial properties, helping to reclaim brownfields in the area.

 

Secretary Salazar and senior Interior officials met with governors, other state officials and stakeholders from all 50 states to discuss the America’s Great Outdoors initiative. 

 

“We are listening to the people of Tennessee and communities across America and working with them on locally-based projects that will conserve the beauty and health of our land and water and open up more opportunities for people to enjoy them,” Salazar said. 

 

“Inclusion in this report will bring valuable attention and the possibility of federal resources to help make these worthy projects a reality,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau.  “We look forward to working with our partners at the federal, state and local levels, as well as nongovernmental organizations, to bring these projects to fruition.”

 

According to the Department of Interior, federal assistance for the Tennessee projects could include collaboration with state, local and nonprofit partners to establish a new national wildlife refuge in the Paint Rock River Watershed, and planning and technical assistance for the Chattanooga Riverwalk greenway.

 

More information about the America's Great Outdoors initiative is available at www.doi.gov.

 

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