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By Gabe Hart

Tennessee Lookout

A group in West Tennessee is determined to protect one of “the crown jewels” of the region: the Hatchie River wetlands.

Led by former Partners in Flight Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Haywood County resident Robert (Bob) Ford, the Hatchie River Conservancy (HRC) was formed in December to raise awareness about an important ecosystem in rural West Tennessee — an area of the state that is changing rapidly due to the construction of the Ford BlueOval City manufacturing campus and immense population growth.

While many West Tennesseans are excited about the opportunities for industrial and economic growth, others have concerns about the unintended consequences of rapid development across the area. Those concerns were the impetus for the formation of the conservancy.

“We often talk about the development and population growth in Haywood, and that turns to impacts on the Hatchie River,” Ford explained. “What if we had a citizen-led, non-profit group that made sure the Hatchie River was at the table for those discussions?”

The Hatchie River is a 238-mile river flowing through six West Tennessee counties. Beginning in McNairy County, it winds its way west, emptying into the Mississippi River. The Hatchie is the longest free-flowing tributary of the lower Mississippi and home to the most extensive forested floodplain in Tennessee.

The Hatchie wetlands house nearly 250 species of birds, including birds passing through to Canada from Central and South America. It also hosts over 100 species of fish and 11 species of catfish, which is believed to be the highest number of catfish species in any river in North America.

Ford and other members of the conservancy believe that rapid change to the area could potentially be dangerous for an ecosystem that has gone untouched for thousands of years.

“In the Hatchie River watershed, things are changing. Change can be good; progress is good, but with progress comes growth in population,” Ford said. “The cumulative impact of growth and people moving into the area could have unintended consequences for the Hatchie.”

In September 2021, Gov. Bill Lee visited Haywood County to announce the deal with Ford Motor Company for Blue Oval City. Since then, rural West Tennesseans have been planning for the expected growth.

As more people have moved to the area, new subdivision developments have been planned, and land purchased. The development of new neighborhoods and new homes could potentially increase the stormwater runoff from concrete and a changing landscape — both unintended negative consequences to the Hatchie River.

Recently, Rep. Kevin Vaughan, R-Collierville,  introduced a bill that would limit state oversight of over more than 430,000 acres of Tennessee wetlands, including the Hatchie River ones.

Vaughan, owner and founder of Township Development Services in Collierville, believes the state needs to decrease its regulation of development due to the population growth West Tennessee is currently experiencing.

According to Ford, this kind of growth is precisely why the Hatchie River Conservancy was formed.

Ford believes the most significant threats to the Hatchie are not intentional or premeditated; they are simply due to blind spots and a lack of awareness during development.

He also believes the biggest threats to the watershed wouldn’t necessarily be direct impacts on the ecosystem itself but simply the ramifications of rapid development — subdivisions squeezing up to the bluffs, concrete runoff, and trash in the river. Each has the potential to change the natural environment of the Hatchie.

Ford said his group wants to be a productive partner with the progress taking place in the area — a voice from a group of citizens who can share what they love about the Hatchie River as what they consider threats.

“I see the HRC as a large network of people using our site as a forum to share their love of the Hatchie and keep an eye on any negative impacts on the watershed,” he said. “We also want to provide technical assistance to landowners regarding forestry.”

“We’re partnering with the University of Tennessee Agricultural Center to increase forestry workshops for landowners. We want to sponsor research and science or provide support for ongoing studies in the watershed.”

While the environmental impact of population growth in West Tennessee is a primary concern to the conservancy, the cultural impact on the Hatchie is also a priority worth protecting.

“People who have grown up around the Hatchie value this space for solitude. There are generational cabins along the river and a few boats and kayaks in the water,” Ford said. As the population grows, access to the river will grow, too.”

“ Again, all of this would be unintentional, but would change what the Hatchie is and has been for generations of people.”

Four months into its existence, the Hatchie River Conservancy is beginning to find its footing and voice while continuing to raise awareness of the Hatchie’s importance in West Tennessee. The group is staying true to its core belief.

“Blue Oval City wasn’t necessarily the impetus for the conservancy, but rather the growth of West Tennessee and how the watershed is starting to change due to that growth,” Ford said.

“We have to be intentional about conservation of the Hatchie River.”

For more information about the Hatchie River Conservancy, visit their website at https://www.hatchieriver.org/