TDEC Awards Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has named Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency as the recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Water Quality. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards which honors individuals, businesses, and other organizations for their commitment to preserving the state’s natural resources.

The award for Water Quality recognizes measurable innovation in improving water quality, preserving water quantity, enhancing aquatic health, and advancing water treatment or conservation practices.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency led a coalition of state, federal, and nonprofit partners as it completed the Harm’s Mill Dam Removal and Elk River Restoration Project, restoring the free-flowing condition of one of Tennessee’s most biologically significant rivers. The obsolete low‑head dam was a longtime barrier to aquatic species and a public‑safety hazard and was removed in late 2025, marking the largest dam removal of its kind in Tennessee.

Located in Lincoln County, Harm’s Mill Dam was the only major barrier on the mainstem of the Elk River, dividing 804 downstream miles from 780 upstream miles. Its removal reconnected an extraordinary 1,114 miles of free‑flowing river, immediately reopening migration routes for fish, mussels, and other aquatic wildlife. The ecological benefits are among the most significant of any recent restoration project in the state. The project also improves public safety and recreation.