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
Breakfast with Santa: Dec. 5, 8 to 11 a.m. Abingdon Elementary School cafeteria: Enjoy pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee for only $5. Tickets sold at the door. Bring the kids for a photo with Santa. This event is being organized by our Stimulus OSM/VISTA Spencer Moss.
Note cards from an artist: Thanks to a donation from local artist Tony Pane of the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable is selling one-of-a-kind note cards. A set of six full color cards, two of each design, is $10.
Massage Therapy Fundraiser: Purchase gift certificates from participating massage therapists in the next couple of weeks and a portion of the sales will go to the Roundtable. Participating therapists are Appalachian Medical Massage, 317 Cherokee Street, Kingsport, TN 37664, Linden Massage, E. Unaka Ave. #1, Johnson City, TN 37601; Jim Quillen, 5602 Kingsport Highway, Johnson City, TN 37601; and Bunny Medeiros, 380 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210. Thank you to each of these businesses for supporting clean water work!!!
Rain Barrels: We have a limited number of rain barrels - white 55 gallon barrels ready for installation under downspouts. Reduce to $ 50 each.
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