Land and Shorelines

The Tennessee River system, developed by the TVA, is a network of dams and reservoirs that generates power, controls flooding, provides recreational opportunities, and boosts the regional and national economies.

The river system has 11,000 miles of public shoreline, and under Section 26a of the TVA Act, TVA has the authority to regulate land use and development along that shoreline. Access to the resources of the Tennessee River system will remain a valuable attraction only as long as those resources are properly managed and protected

The agency carries out its management responsibilities through the following means:

• A network of Watershed Teams whose members handle questions about the use of TVA-managed land.

• A system for issuing Section 26a permits by which TVA regulates shoreline construction that may affect navigation, flood control, or public land use.

• A system for gathering public comments on requests for private or public use of TVA lands: see Public Notices.

• An extensive Shoreline Management Policy that guides the agency in balancing the requirements of recreation, shoreline development, and resource conservation.

• A series of fact sheets on Riparian Restoration to help shoreline property owners create landscaping that is attractive and also helps control erosion and pollution. A new feature of the site is the native plant selector, a guide to plants suitable for landscaping in the Tennessee Valley region.

• The work of the TVA Cultural Resources staff to protect more than 9,000 archaeological sites on TVA land.

For general information about shoreline property and public land, send an e-mail message to shoreline@tva.gov.