EESI features the Tennessee River in their Resilient and Healthy River Communities Series
The Tennessee River, one of North America’s most biodiverse waterways, faces serious environmental threats from pollution, microplastics, and PFAS chemicals. In a recent briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), experts highlighted the challenges facing the river and the urgent need for better conservation efforts. While federal policies such as the Clean Water Act have helped improve water quality, the river still suffers from contamination caused by industrial runoff, extreme weather events, and insufficient funding for biodiversity conservation. Scientists and conservationists stressed that protecting the river’s unique ecosystem requires enforcing clean water laws, securing better funding, and working closely with local communities to implement sustainable land and water management practices.
Efforts to restore the Tennessee River’s health include habitat restoration, sustainable farming practices, and innovative partnerships between researchers, conservation organizations, and policymakers. The river’s tributaries play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, but pollution and habitat fragmentation threaten many species, some of which exist nowhere else in the world. The discussion also emphasized the growing concern over microplastics, which accumulate in drinking water and impact both aquatic life and human health. Addressing these challenges requires increased public awareness, better policies to reduce plastic waste, and continued research into the long-term effects of river pollution. Click the link below to read the full article and learn more about the future of the Tennessee River and how you can help protect it.