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TWRA to protect ~7,200 acres of Hatchee River wetlands; subcommittee approves acquisition
Summary
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency won approval to acquire roughly 7,200 acres of mostly contiguous forested wetlands along the Hatchee River—a state‑designated scenic river and an unchannelized tributary—positioned as critical habitat protection and public access expansion supported by agency and federal funds.
Jason Macdonald told the committee the Hatchee River acquisition would secure protection for one of Tennessee’s most diverse ecosystems and expand public access for hunting and recreation. He described the river as Tennessee’s last unchannelized river and a designated state scenic river, noting the land contains more than 100 fish species, 35 mussel species and over 250 bird species.
Macdonald said the acquisition would be mostly contiguous with existing public lands and would become a new wildlife management area with no anticipated additional management costs; funding is expected from TWRA’s wetlands acquisition fund and federal wildlife restoration grants. The subcommittee approved the proposed acquisition by voice vote.
