Welcome to our Watershed
The Upper Tennessee River Roundtable is a non-profit organization with
an overall interest in improving water quality in the Upper Tennessee
River Watershed. Don't let the name confuse you: the Upper Tennessee
River Roundtable is based in Southwest Virginia and covers from the
very tip of Virginia, Lee County, toward Wythe County. The Roundtable represents a total of nine counties and two cities. Our major rivers include the Clinch, Holston (pictured at left), and Powell. (Image credit: USDA.)
The Upper Tennessee River watershed covers three rivers in Virginia:
the Clinch, Holston, and Powell rivers. The Roundtable is active in
water quality improvement efforts in all three of these rivers. The
greater watershed is host to numerous species of fish, mussel, and
other aquatic life species. In fact, according to the Nature
Conservancy, the Upper Tennessee River watershed greatly exceeds all
other watersheds in the lower 48 states in terms of species richness
and diversity!
Species in Peril
At last count, our watershed had a whopping 48 imperiled and vulnerable
fish and mussel species. This includes 21 federally endangered or
threatened species! The Roundtable has been active in efforts to
improve the numbers of individuals of threatened and endangered species
in our region. Most recently, following a localized project undertaken
by the Roundtable, the Lee County Isopod (pictured at left), at the time in danger of
extinction, rebounded in greater numbers. (Image credit: Shane Hanlon, US Fish and Wildlife.)
Within the past few years, the Roundtable has grown tremendously in terms of on-site staff and projects, largely as a result of a targeted watershed grant awarded to the Roundtable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Upcoming Events
Third Annual Charity Golf Fundraiser: Sunday, June 21, 2009
Steele Creek Park, Bristol, TN. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. $20 entry fee includes hotstamp disc and mini marker; $40 fee for both disc golf and ball golf. Format is 9 holes of ball golf before noon and 18 holes of disc golf after noon. You may play either or both types of golf. Prizes will be awarded at 5 p.m. For more information, call the Roundtable office at 276.628.1600.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009: "Eco Faire" at Abingdon Farmer's Market
Roundtable will feature rain barrels and rain gardens. An activity of the Virginia Highlands Festival.
Monday, Aug. 3, 2009: Stream monitoring workshop at White's Mill
In Abingdon, as part of the Virginia Highlands Festival. Starts at 10 a.m. Register in advance by calling the Roundtable at 276.628.1600.
Saturday, Oct. 3 - Saturday, Oct 24, 2009: Regional Stream Cleanup
Sponsored by Tennessee Valley Authority. Help clean up our streams and rivers! Supplies and rewards provided. Call the Roundtable to register!
Contact Us
Physical Address:
330 Cummings Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2359
Abingdon, VA 24212
Phone/Fax:
T (276)628-1600
F (276)623-1185
E-mail