The Nickajack Naturalist

End of an Era at the Nickajack Naturalist - and a New Beginning

Nickajack Cave, (Photo: Bob Butters)

After 13 years of bringing you stories of nature, outdoor recreation and conservation, primarily focusing on Chattanooga and the South Cumberland region, the time has come for the Nickajack Naturalist to re-brand and transition to a new chapter. Today marks the official launch of the new website, the Cumberland Naturalist.

The Cumberland Naturalist name better reflects the geographical coverage area of the site. While still having a strong emphasis on the core South Cumberland region, the Cumberland Naturalist features the Cumberland Trekker Outdoor Adventure Guide, which when completed will be a comprehensive outdoor recreation guide to the Cumberland region and vicinity of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. The blog will provide more coverage of this expanded area.

For the time being you will be able to continue to access the archives at the Nickajack Naturalist, but all new material will be published at the Cumberland Naturalist.

Head over and check it out!

The Tennessee River Gorge viewed from Snoopers Rock. (Photo: Bob Butters)

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Recovery of the Snail Darter Celebrated

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

(Photo: USFWS)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and dozens of conservation partners recently celebrated the snail darter’s recovery and removal from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife at Seven Islands Birding State Park. The snail darter is the fifth fish species delisted due to recovery in the country and the first in the eastern United States, marking an important milestone in ESA's success in supporting biodiversity.

After an extensive review of the best scientific and commercial information available, the Service found this small freshwater fish -- native to the Tennessee River watershed in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee -- is no longer in danger of extinction, now or in the foreseeable future.

Excitement Keeps Mounting in Aquarium-led Effort to Restore Lake Sturgeon to River

Tennessee Aquarium

(Photo: Doug Strickland/Tennessee Aquarium)

For a fish that can live more than 150 years and take more than three decades to reach reproductive maturity, patience among Lake Sturgeon isn’t so much a virtue as a necessity.

The same can be said for members of the Lake Sturgeon Working Group, a cadre of conservation scientists and government agencies which has spent 22 years attempting to restore this long-absent river giant to the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.

Read more.

Lake Sturgeon release in downtown Chattanooga. (Photo: Doug Strickland/Tennessee Aquarium)

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$10 Million for Rivers to Ridges Partnership in Southeast Tennessee

Thrive Regional Partnership

(Photo: Thrive Regional Partnership)

Thrive is proud to be a contributing partner in the "Rivers to Ridges" Regional Conservation Partnership in southeast Tennessee, which recently secured $10 million in federal funds to support farmers and landowners in our region as they make improvements on their lands which will benefit water quality. By improving water quality in streams across the region, we can enhance community and economic vitality through drinkable, recreational, and species-rich waters.

Learn More.

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How Do We Know Anything About Migrating Birds?

Braelei Hardt - National Wildlife Federation

(Image: NWF)

Each August, billions of birds rally themselves for the long, dangerous migration south. But how do they do it, and what is involved in a bird's treacherous journey? Learn how everything from food supply to the aerosphere plays a factor in a bird's incredible trek each year.

Conservation Easement Protects Scenic Land Along Obed River

TennGreen Land Conservancy

(Photo: TennGreen)

Recently, TennGreen Land Conservancy partnered with Joy and Bill Morgan to conserve their 32-acre property along the Obed River in Cumberland County, Tennessee!This success marks TennGreen's fourteenth completed project in Cumberland County, expanding upon more than 11,000 acres conserved in the area by the organization.

Learn more.

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Tennessee American Water Awards 2022 Environmental Grants

Daphne L. Kirksey - The Pulse

(Photo: The Pulse)

Tennessee American Water has announced that six watershed-related projects across the Chattanooga Valley will receive financial support through the company’s annual Environmental Grant Program.

This year, Tennessee American Water awarded over $10,000 to local organizations within its service area that are engaged in sustainability projects to improve, restore, or protect watersheds.

Scoping Initiated by USACE to Evaluate Management, Prevent Spread of Invasive Carp

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(Map: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is initiating scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate measures and alternatives to manage and prevent the spread of invasive carp in the Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and northern section of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway as authorized by Section 509 of the Water Resource Development Act of 2020.

Go Play and Take the Kids!

Day Fire Podcast

(Image: Day Fire Podcast)

Dawson and Clint recently sat down and talked about getting out AND taking the kids with you! The past few years we have learned how important being active is - especially being active outside!

Listen in.

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