Field Supervisor
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Why Are Rivers and Streams Important?
Tennessee rivers play an important role in our lives. They power generators that provide electricity for much of the state and transport barges that move our goods. We use rivers for drinking water, irrigation, recreation, fishing and swimming. Tennesseans use rivers for spiritual renewal and consider them some of the country’s most scenic areas. It’s no coincidence that both Native American and pioneer settlements were located along rivers. Even today, a casual look at a map would show that the major towns and cities are located along river corridors. Rivers are a part of our heritage.
Rivers and streams can be described in many ways. A broad description of flowing water in the landscape is called the geomorphic characterization and describes features like floodplains and terraces (old, abandoned floodplains). The river substrate is the river bottom; sand, clay, silt, gravel and limestone are examples of substrate. The river pattern can be relatively straight, sinuous (winding, with some curves), meandering (winding, with many curves), or oxbow (a U-shaped turn in the river). Whether the river is straight, sinuous, meandering or an oxbow is determined by the landscape. Natural physical processes common to all rivers cause water to flow in a meandering fashion rather than a straight line. A stream that flows in a very straight line for a considerable distance has probably been altered artificially.
Some streams flow all year long and are called perrenial. Others, called intermittent flow only during the wet season, while ephemeral streams are found only after a heavy rain. Rivers and streams have parts, too. The headwater is where rivers begin their journey and the mouth is where it enters another water body. In between, there are pools (slow, moving stretches) and riffles (fast moving). Aquatic animals have adapted to these different areas.
In their comprehensive book, The Fishes of Tennessee, Dr. David Etnier and Dr. Wayne Starnes explain that Tennessee not only has the greatest diversity of freshwater fishes in the country, but also of crayfish, mollusks and some aquatic insects. Rivers are home to over 300 species of freshwater fishes and over 120 species of freshwater mussels, as well as countless small creatures that live on our river bottoms. Some animals, sensitive to environmental and chemical changes, are good indicators of the quality of water in our rivers. When water quality declines, some of these animals disappear, indicating that something is wrong. If we pay attention, this "wake-up call" can alert us to restore our rivers and streams before it is too late.
Rivers are important in defining the landscape and in creating a habitat for many of Tennessee’s plants and animals. Some plants and animals have adapted to the slow meander, the fast pace or the unusual nature (oxbow lakes) of Tennessee’s rivers. Some river systems even support unusual or rare animals and plants. Beavers, mink and muskrat are familiar to many river-watchers, while the beautiful Ruth’s Golden Aster is seen only by those who study in-stream boulders in the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers.
Rivers also have significant economic values that are of great importance, but are often overlooked. According to a 1991 national survey, anglers spend up to $500 Million on fishing-related activities every year in Tennessee. Other river activities, such as boating and rafting, generate jobs, economic benefits and tax revenue to the state. Wetlands, aquatic wildlife and urban waterfronts are valuable, as well as the roles of rivers in flood protection and industrial support.
