Marathon Swimmer to Begin Fourth Segment of Tennessee River
July 17, 2002
On July 22, marathon swimmer Mimi Hughes will begin the fourth segment of her five-year quest to swim the 652-mile length of the Tennessee River.
Beginning at Wheeler Dam, east of Muscle Shoals, Hughes plans to swim through Wilson Reservoir the first day. She expects to end this year’s 135-mile journey at Mermaid Marina near Decaturville, Tennessee, on August 1. Last summer, she swam about 130 miles through Guntersville and Wheeler reservoirs. She began her journey in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1999.
TVA’s Pickwick Watershed team is coordinating the use of a support boat and helping with logistical needs for Hughes’s swim. She is expected to be in the water daily for about two weeks.
The 46-year-old mother of four from Taft, Tennessee, is trying to generate public interest in protecting the waters of the Tennessee River so that everyone can enjoy its benefits for many years. Through integrated management of the river system, TVA tries to optimize those benefits, including flood control, navigation, power generation, recreation, water quality, and water supply.
“Many people take the river for granted and may not realize that their actions, not just on or near the water, but anywhere in the watershed, can be harmful to the river,” Hughes said. “I hope that my effort will get people interested in learning what they can do to help protect the precious, life-sustaining waters of our planet.”
Whether it’s preventing soil erosion along streams, closely following instructions for lawn chemicals, or just helping keep trash and pollution out of the river, Hughes says everyone can do something to help. “For all the benefits we get from this magnificent river, that’s the very least we can do,” she said.
Hughes swam about 375 miles in three years to reach Wheeler Dam, where she will start her swim this year. She expects to complete her swim next summer. More information about Hughes’s swim is available at www.riverswim.com.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer, and its power system is self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact:
Terry Johnson, Muscle Shoals (256-386-3076) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
