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Clinch River

Kyles Ford
Kyles Ford
© Byron Jorjorian

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The Clinch and Powell Rivers are formed in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, and are considered the only ecologically intact (undammed) headwaters of the Tennessee River system. The Clinch river watershed is the number one hotspot in the U.S. for imperiled aquatic species. Combined with the rare plants, mammals, birds, and insects that live in the watershed, the Clinch Valley and its rivers support 30 federally listed threatened or endangered species.

Threats
An important consideration is the fact that the Clinch Valley's land, water, and natural resources also sustain human communities and their economies. The socioeconomic conditions of the area are defined by high unemployment and economic disparity. Our challenge is therefore to develop and promote economically compatible approaches to conservation that not only protect the resource but allow for its sustainable economic use. Declining water quality, a legacy of coal mining and unsustainable agricultural practices, is the primary threat to these rivers today.

Animals
31 varieties of rare mussels and 17 rare fish species call the Clinch River home. 

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Beginning in 1990, The Nature Conservancy targeted the watersheds of the Clinch and Powell rivers as part of the "Last Great Places" ecosystem conservation program. A joint project of the Virginia and Tennessee chapters, the Clinch Valley Program has seven staff members working from field offices in Abingdon, VA and Hancock County, TN. The Conservancy owns seven preserves in the valley. We plan to acquire critical tracts of land in this area over the next five years.

Actions taken by the Conservancy include:

  • Helping in the creation of citizens' initiatives for sustainable growth, including the Russell County Vision Forum and another similar program in St. Paul, VA.
  • Joining hands with the residents of Hancock County, TN to purchase and renovate the century-old Vardy Church to serve as a community meeting place, historical archive, and natural resource information center.