the hatchie river - Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce

T H E H ATC H I E R I V E R
I N I T I AT I V E O N E
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
T H E H ATC H I E R I V E R
A N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E
I.
Executive Summary
VII. Stakeholder Groups
VIII. Credits
III. Mission Statement
IX.
"The Hatchie River is One of 75 Last Great Places on
Earth Most Deserving of Protection" - this according to
The Nature Conservancy.
IV. Goals
X.
V.
The longest Scenic River protected under the Tennessee
Scenic Rivers Act.
VI.
XI. Afterword
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Five-Year Outlook
HAYWOOD COUNTY
MADISON COUNTY
State Hwy. 179
/
his
• It is the last major unchannelized tributary of the Lower
Mississippi River Basin (Cairo, Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico).
Hwy.
100
Bear Trace
at Chickasaw
Chickasaw State
Park and Forest
8
SILERTON
Hw
St
at
e
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State
y. 6
Lake Silerton
4
Hwy.
125
Hardeman Co.
Hardeman Co.
Country Club
Fairgrounds
Bolivar Bolivar
High General
BOLIVAR
Western Mental
School Hospital
Courthouse Square
City Park
Hospital
Farmers’
Bolivar City Lake
US Hw
Market
Victory
y. 64 HORNSBY
McAnulty Woods
Ranch
Hornsby
Elementary
School
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oad
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18
25
1
y.
• The Hatchie River provides habitat for more than 100 species
of fish including 11 species of catfish which is possibly the most
of any North American River, 50 species of mammals, 35 species
HICKORY VALLEY
of mussels, 250 species of birds including migrating birds along
with many reptiles, amphibians and invertebrate species.
BolivarHardeman Co.
Airport
at
Hardeman Co.
Industrial Park
St
• It is protected as a Scenic River in the State of Tennessee.
TOONE
Toone
Elementary
School
100
Bolivar
Industrial
Park
US
Whiteville Lake
M
Hwy.
State
y.
1
State
Whiteville
Elementary
School
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em
HARDEMAN COUNTY
Hatchie River
• The Hatchie River has been designated by The Nature
WHITEVILLE
4
y. 6 most
Conservancy as one of the 75 last great places on earth
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deserving of protection for future generations.
To
Acknowledgements
To Jackson
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What’s so significant about the Hatchie River?
History
CHESTER COUNTY
I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Strategies
State Hwy. 138
FAYETTE COUNTY
II. Background
her
nR
ailr
Deer Creek
Golf Course
ity S
out
Grand Valley Lake
To Memphis
GRAND
JUNCTION
Bird Dog Museum
sC
Middleton
Elementary
School
State Hwy. 57
Middleton
High School
MIDDLETON
Norfolk Southern Railroad
POCAHONTAS
FAYETTE COUNTY
State Hwy. 57
SAULSBURY
• The Hatchie River and its ecosystem are disappearing due to sedimentation
created by channelized tributaries.
Davis Bridge
Grand Junction
High School
Norfolk Southern Railroad
Battlefield
MCNAIRY COUNTY
Issues:
Hatchie River
Kan
sa
Ames
Plantation
• There is currently little public use of the River due to minimal
public access and the lack of recreation
TENNESSEE areas and
Y
MISSISSIPPI
Y
parks.
HARDEMAN COUNT
BENTON COUNT
To New Albany, MS
• River frontage is almost entirely privately owned with the exception of two National Wildlife Refuges located in
Haywood, Tipton, and Lauderdale Counties. Hardeman County has no public recreational areas despite having more than
80 miles of the entire 178 miles flowing through Tennessee.
• The public is unaware of the attributes of this natural and pristine river … and its potential for recreation, education,
and science.
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PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
Course of Action:
• Creation of the Hatchie River Conservancy with a mission to restore, preserve and enhance the utilization of the
Hatchie River and its floodplains.
Goals:
• Aid and support The Nature Conservancy, TWRA and other conservation oriented organizations in their efforts to
restore and preserve the Hatchie River ecosystem.
• Provide public access and recreational areas on the River for low impact nature and recreational activities.
• Promote and encourage the use of the Hatchie River for low impact recreational activities, education and science.
The Big Picture:
Hardeman County, Tennessee, is turning into a very special community … unlike any other. We are blending a unique
sportsman’s paradise and an unmatched outdoorsman’s Mecca with family recreation and a distinctive town with deep
historical roots into a perfect tourist destination and a wonderful place for people to live. We believe that people are looking
for ways to reconnect with nature while, at the same time, seeking an exceptionally high quality of life as a complete
alternative to urban lifestyle. The convergence of rural stewardship and the electronic age affords this rural, yet progressive,
way of life.
A Striking Reality:
The State Rivers program now faces two conflicting realities. One is the likelihood of shrinking federal and state dollars that
are necessary for the type of river protection efforts undertaken during the 1970's. Another ‘reality’ is the effect of increasing
growth and development pressures that accompany urbanization and suburbanization. The increase of development
pressure on environmentally sensitive and historically open space and countryside necessitates enhanced support for land
preservation and effective land planning¹.
1. The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture: Tennessee Scenic Rivers Program, http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=T057
THE HATCHIE RIVER
39
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
II BACKGROUND
PROBLEMS/OPPORTUNITIES:
Problem Statements:
1. Ecology: The Hatchie River and its ecosystem
are slowly disappearing!
2. Public Use: Minimal public access and recreation
areas exist to encourage enjoyment and use of the
Hatchie River.
3. Public Awareness: While the public is generally
aware of the existence of the Hatchie River, its
attributes are not broadly known or understood
resulting in very little usage for recreational activities,
education and science.
Opportunities and their Solutions:
1. Ecology: The Hatchie River and its ecosystem are
disappearing!
A. Agricultural land use and gully erosion have historically contributed more sediment to the streams of the Hatchie River
watershed than those streams can carry. Through 1970, the main sedimentation problem in the watershed occurred in the
tributary floodplains.
B. This problem motivated channelization projects for many of the tributaries (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1970).
C. By the mid-1980’s, concern had shifted to sedimentation in the Hatchie River itself where channelized tributaries were
understood to contribute much of the sediment. The Soil Conservation Service [Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) since 1996] estimated that 640,000 tons or 1 billion 280 million pounds (1,280,000,000 lbs.) of bedload (sand)
accumulates in the Hatchie River each year.
D. Since publication of the first Hatchie River report (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1970), the channel of the river has
become shallower, and flooding has increased (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1986b). These wetter conditions inhibit
growth of hardwoods and lead to premature hardwood mortality. The NRCS has predicted that despite efforts to control
erosion in the uplands, most of the valley-bottom forest will die. However, recent reports from The Nature Conservancy
have reflected that their remediation efforts are working One of the aspects of the Hatchie that makes it worthy of being
one of the 75 Last Great Places (LGP) is that it still has a natural flooding cycle. In a bottomland hardwood forest (BLH),
flooding, especially during the winter and spring months, is crucial to the functioning of the ecosystem. This is why duck
40
THE HATCHIE RIVER
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
hunting has always been so popular in the Hatchie. The problems arise when excess sediment carried in floodwaters is
deposited on the floodplain as shoals and valley plugs in the tributaries. Once a tributary is blocked by sand, the whole
system reacts as if to a beaver dam. In fact, the effects of a valley plug are often mistakenly identified as a beaver problem.
The blocked tributary backs water up into the floodplain, disallowing the natural drainage of water after a flood. If the
sand on the surface doesn’t kill the trees, the presence of water at depths and durations longer than normal increase BLH
mortality. It’s just like a beaver dam backing water up over time.
E. Observation: Sand transport increases with slope, width, and depth (Vanoni, 1975), all of which are increased by
channelization. These three variables are low in natural, meandering streams of the Hatchie River watershed, suggesting that
tributaries in their natural state have little role in the transport of sand to the Hatchie River. Shoals were not found at the
mouths of natural tributaries, some of which enter the Hatchie River at unusually deep pools.
F. The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to restore the Hatchie have focused on tributary remediation with promising preliminary
results. Much hard work remains to achieve full restoration efforts.
Implications: If these sedimentation issues are left unchecked, the Hatchie River will ultimately be destroyed. Hence, the
entire ecosystem will disappear: fish, hardwoods, birds, and other wildlife, including some species that are found only in the
Hatchie River and its tributaries.
Opportunity: Align the various stakeholder groups and conservation organizations to leverage and capitalize on their
common objectives in restoring and preserving the Hatchie River.
Solution: Form the Hatchie River Conservancy. Accomplish its Mission, Goals and Strategies, including working in a
strategic partnership with The Nature Conservancy, TWRA, and other conservation organizations, to save the Hatchie
River.
THE HATCHIE RIVER
41
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
2. Public Use: Only a few public access areas and no recreation
areas exist in Hardeman County to encourage enjoyment and use
of the Hatchie River.
A. Effectively all of the Hatchie River frontage is privately
owned except for the Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge
in Tipton and Lauderdale Counties and the Hatchie National
Wildlife Refuge located in Haywood County.
B. Hardeman County lacks any public access to the Hatchie
River, including recreation areas, except for boat ramps near
bridge overpasses and those informally provided by private land
owners.
C. No public campsites, picnic areas, or trails exist along the Hatchie River in Hardeman County
D. Waterfowl Hunting: Waterfowl migration patterns into the Hatchie watershed in Hardeman County have significantly
diminished over recent years. Many believe that these patterns have been altered due to creation of better waterfowl habitats
in other areas. Additionally, no public duck hunting areas exist in Hardeman County except for limited duck hunting on the
flowing Hatchie River.
Implications: The pristine Hatchie River will continue to be underutilized and a missed opportunity for all but a handful
of locals.
Opportunity: Open up key sites to the public and provide better waterfowl habitat.
Solution: Identify key sites for public access
for boat ramps, picnic areas, campsites, trails,
outfitter stores and waterfowl refuge areas
for acquisition by the State of Tennessee
and the Hatchie River Conservancy along
with conservation easements with private
landowners.
Solution: Obtain land on the Hatchie River and
create the Muddy Rudder Restaurant combined
with an outfitters shop; hunting, bait & tackle
shop; canoe and kayak rentals; keelboat and
johnboat rides; family entertainment, and
organized year-round sports activities.
42
THE HATCHIE RIVER
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
3. Public Awareness: While the public is generally aware of the existence of the Hatchie River, its attributes and history
are not broadly known or understood, resulting in very little usage of the River for recreational activities, education, and
science.
Solution: Develop and execute an all-encompassing marketing and promotional plan including scheduling of river events.
Solution: Develop an “outdoor classroom” site to provide hands-on education for schools and students at all levels.
Solution: Establish The Hatchie River Museum of Ecology & Conservation dedicated to education for schools and the
general public. The central theme of the Museum will be: “Why The Nature Conservancy has designated the Hatchie River
as ‘One of 75 Last Great Places on Earth Most Deserving of Preservation’ and to showcase the Hatchie River as a living
classroom demonstrating its path to successful restoration to its natural state”.
Solution: Re-create “Old Hatchie Town” on the banks of the Hatchie River . Long before the white settler came, the
Chickasaw Indians used the river called Hatchie. In their language it means river. Hatchie Town was used as a stopping point
and a trading post from 1818 until October 18, 1825, when the permanent site for Bolivar was established. Steamboats,
keelboats, and flatboats wound their way up the Hatchie from the Mississippi River as far as Bolivar.
THE HATCHIE RIVER
43
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
III MISSION STATEMENT OF THE HATCHIE RIVER
CONSERVANCY
To restore, preserve and enhance the utilization of the Hatchie River
and the Hatchie flood plains.
IV GOALS
1. Aid and support The Nature Conservancy, TWRA, and other
conservation groups in their efforts to restore and preserve the
Hatchie River and its floodplains for future generations.
2. Provide public access and designated areas along the Hatchie River
for low impact recreational activities. (Access/Recreational Areas will
be owned by the Hatchie River Conservancy, the State of Tennessee,
or by landowners granting conservation easements.)
3. Promote and encourage the use of the Hatchie River for low
impact recreational activities, education, and science.
V STRATEGIES
1. Create key strategic alliances with The Nature Conservancy, TWRA, and other conservation oriented organizations.
2. Re-activate and energize the existing Hatchie River Alliance (Exhibit A) which is comprised of 17 conservation oriented
entities and is inactive at present.
3. Bring stakeholders together in support of the goals. Get their buy-in.
4. Movers and shakers will come from this group and form the nucleus of the Conservancy to make this happen. This
includes the Miller Lumber Trust which is by far the largest landowner on the Hatchie River in Hardeman County (Miller
Lumber has verbally expressed strong support for the effort to restore and preserve the Hatchie River).
5. Create the Hatchie River Conservancy as a legal entity with a board of directors, officers, and support staff. (Draw upon
the experience of the Wolf River Conservancy and Scott P. Ledbetter, former Chair of the Wolf River Conservancy and
present Chair of Hardeman County’s Rural Stewardship Program, which includes the Hatchie River Conservancy, for advice
and support.)
6. Research and execute federal and state grant opportunities and aggressively recruit members and donors to achieve
Conservancy goals.
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THE HATCHIE RIVER
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
7. Define areas along the River for public low impact recreational areas and access points.
8. Acquire the rights to the recreational areas and access points through Conservancy acquisitions, state acquisitions, or
conservation easements.
9. Develop and implement a marketing plan for promoting recreational use of the Hatchie River, its Tennessee Scenic
River status, and its designation by The Nature Conservancy as “One of 75 Last Great Places on Earth Deserving of
Preservation.”
10. Establish and promote the Hatchie River as an “Educational and Scientific Classroom” by creating an outdoor classroom
for schools and creating the Hatchie River Museum of Ecology & Conservation for schools and the public.
11. Coordinate and leverage the goals and strategies of the Hatchie River Conservancy with the other initiatives, including the
Bill Dance Signature Lake Trail (proposed Lake Silerton), Davis Bridge Battlefield (“Ghosts of Davis Bridge”), Hardeman
County Airport Expansion and Enhancement, and the Revitalization of Bolivar’s Downtown Historical Districts.
THE HATCHIE RIVER
45
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
VI FIVE-YEAR OUTLOOK
What the Hatchie River Conservancy expects to have accomplished within five years are as follows:
1. Substantial reduction in sedimentation (sand buildup) throughout the Hatchie River and its tributaries, plus have a
definitive plan in place with actions underway to resolve the balance of the problem. Target areas include, but are not limited
to:
d. Cypress Creek
a. Muddy Creek
e. Tuscumbia River
b. Porters Creek
f. Upper Hatchie
c. Piney Creek
2. Nice access and recreational areas
3. Significant increase in the number of people enjoying the Hatchie River
4. Beautiful trail from the historical district in downtown Bolivar to the Hatchie River at Highway 18 North using the old
railroad bed and trestle bridge – a walking, jogging, biking, and equestrian trail.
5. The Piney Creek greenbelt with a beautiful trail running from the proposed Lake Silerton dam to the Hatchie River – a
walking, jogging, biking, and equestrian trail.
6. East Lake Park trail to the Hatchie River at Highway 64 East – a walking, jogging, biking, and equestrian trail.
7. Access points to the Hatchie River at:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Essary Springs
Pocahontas – Hwy 57
Powell Chapel Road
Hwy 64
e. Hwy 18
f. Hwy 100
g. Hatchie Station
8. An “outdoor classroom” to provide hands-on education for schools at all levels.
9. The Hatchie River Museum of Ecology & Conservation dedicated to education for schools and the general public.
10. The re-creation of Old Hatchie Town on the River at Highway 18 North (Bolivar's predecessor).
11. Established outfitter to facilitate recreational activities on the Hatchie. Obtain land on the Hatchie River and create the
Muddy Rudder Restaurant combined with an outfitters shop; hunting, bait & tackle shop; canoe and kayak rentals; keelboat
and johnboat rides; family entertainment, and year-round sports activities.
12.
46
Sponsored Hatchie River events throughout the year.
THE HATCHIE RIVER
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
VII STAKEHOLDER GROUPS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hunters
Fishermen
Kayakers, Canoers, and Johnboaters
Scouts
Campers
Hikers
Cyclists
Horse Enthusiasts
Conservationists
Environmentalists
Birdwatchers and Nature Seekers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Scientists
Educators and Students
History Buffs
Landowners – Farmers
Landowners – Timber Growers
Landowners – Homeowners
Landowners – Get-away Weekenders
Local River Rats
The Curious – Novice City Slickers
Local Businesses
Governments
VIII CREDITS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sources of information contained in this report are as follows:
Contrasting River Restoration Strategies in West Tennessee: http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004NE/finalprogram/
abstract_70567.htm
Hatchie River photo: Byron Jorjorian Photography: http://www.naturephotocentral.com/ContactUs.html
Hatchie River photos: Jac Belét & Don Dempsey: http://hatchieriver.myphotoalbum.com/
Loess Hills of the Lower Mississippi Valley: http://www.backyardnature.net/loess/loess.html
Management of Bottomland Hardwood Forests for Nongame Bird Communities on Corp of Engineers Projects:
http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/si21.pdf
USGS and West Tennessee River Basin Authority:
USGS – Shoals and Valley Plugs in the Hatchie River http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri004279/hatchie.pdf
The Nature Conservancy, Monica Pope
– “Tennessee Landowner Incentive
Program Manager” http://www.nature.
org/wherewework/northamerica/states/
tennessee/preserves/art10171.html
The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History
and Culture: “Mississippi River System:
http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/
imagegallery.php?EntryID=M107
Welcome to the Hatchie http://www.
hatchie.com/
West Tennessee River Basins: http://www.
srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/
status_westtn.shtml
THE HATCHIE RIVER
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PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
IX HISTORY
While recently floating down the meandering Hatchie,
captivated by nature’s limitless wonders, a friend’s statement
made not long ago crossed my mind: “I wonder how long it
took Walt Disney to create all this?” Some in the scientific and
conservation community argue that the Hatchie River story
began 50-million years ago and that the Hatchie itself could
be as old as 5-million years. “The soils in West Tennessee
are the reason why the Hatchie has so many bends and loops
compared to rivers in Middle and East Tennessee. Unlike
most rivers, which are contained within an armored channel
of bedrock, boulders, gravel or limestone, the Hatchie easily
slices through soft sediments. And with little topography to
control it, the muddy river chooses its path freely, wagging
back and forth across the broad floodplain, leaving old river
channels behind as sloughs and oxbow lakes, water-scrawled
reminders of its past travels.”¹
As one becomes a bit more curious about the Hatchie and explores its fascinating history, he discovers that “[i]n more
recent times … 12,000 … years ago, the climate warmed and spruce and jack pine [which] dominated upland forests were
replaced by the hardwood forests with oaks, hickories, gums and tulip poplars … [and] [l]arge mammals called mega-fauna
roamed ... animals like mastadons [sic], wooly rhinoceros, camel, horse and giant ground sloths. Rather suddenly, these fauna
disappeared”² perhaps about the time Native Americans arrived on the scene via the Asian land bridge. Then, perhaps 500
years ago or earlier, the Chickasaw Indians claimed this territory and “[t]he Hatchie was an important transport route for
these Indians, allowing them to float buffalo, deer and elk meat downstream in cypress dugouts to the Mississippi River
and downstream to their towns … The Chickasaws lost title to their lands in 1818. Settlement followed rapidly. Most came
from North Carolina, via Welton Road and Glovers Trace. Others floated in flat boats down rivers like the Tennessee, the
Cumberland, and the Mississippi, then up the Forked Deer, the Wolf, and especially, the Hatchie.”³
Settlement in Hardeman County began in 1819. “The first town … was established in 1823 on the banks of the Big Hatchie,
the Indian name for the river. It was appropriately called Hatchie Town.” Due to constant flooding, the town was moved
one mile south to its present location. “The new county seat was Hatchie, until by Act of the Tennessee State Legislature,
on October 18, 1825, it was changed to Bolivar.” “From 1825 until the close of the 1880’s, Bolivar was the center of river
trade with the port at the old site. Keelboats, flatboats, packet boats, and steamships made regular trips to and from the
markets. The first steamship arrived in 1828. ‘The Native’ was built in 1835 by William Henry Wood of Bolivar. After 1843
commerce on the river was so good that fourteen steamboats were making regular calls.”6 Travel on the Hatchie diminished
as railroad lines were established and roads opened up.
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THE HATCHIE RIVER
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The Hatchie River again became the focus of attention
when, during the Civil War, the Union Army fought it out in
a bloody all-day battle with the Confederate Army at Davis
Bridge on the Hatchie just outside of Pocahontas. This
battle is the subject of the Davis Bridge Battlefield Initiative,
likewise, contained in the Presentation to the Governor.
It’s no wonder that The Nature Conservancy has named the
Hatchie River “One of 75 Last Great Places”  on earth most
deserving of protection.
In 1982,9 the Hatchie River was listed as a “Scenic River”
under the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act. “The Tennessee
program, a pioneering effort, was the second state river
conservation program in the nation (Wisconsin was the first,
but Tennessee’s program was the more comprehensive). The
Scenic Rivers Act, based on an early draft of the National Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act, reflected long-standing conservation
ideas from the conservation and progressive movements of
the late 1880's through the early 1900's. The Hatchie River,
the largest river in the program at 185 miles, is the last major
unchannelized tributary of the lower Mississippi River
Basin. The State Rivers program now faces two conflicting
realities. One is the likelihood of shrinking federal and state
dollars that are necessary for the type of river protection
efforts undertaken during the 1970's. Another ‘reality’ is the
effect of increasing growth and development pressures that
accompany urbanization and suburbanization. The increase
of development pressure on environmentally sensitive and
historically open space and countryside necessitates enhanced
support for land preservation and effective land planning.”10
1. A Very Brief History of the Hatchie, http://www.hatchie.com/hatchie_history.htm
2. ibid.
3. ibid.
4. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardeman_County,_Tennessee
5. ibid.
6. The City of Bolivar, http://www.cityofbolivar.info/history.htm
7. Presentation to the Governor, Rural Stewardship = Economic Development For Hardeman County and for Tennessee
8. The Hatchie River – A Last Great Place, http://www.hatchie.com/Great_Place.htm
9. Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/nri/states/tn.html
10. The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture: Tennessee Scenic Rivers Program, http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=T057
Hatchie River: An exceptional overview choc full of facts, details and the deep history of the Hatchie River is contained in an article entitled: “A Very Brief History of the Hatchie” which can be found on the following web site: http://www.hatchie.com/hatchie_history.
htm
Hardeman County: A very brief history of Hardeman County, Tennessee, can be found on the following web site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardeman_County,_Tennessee
Hatchie Town (later renamed Bolivar, Tennessee): An extremely interesting history of the creation of Hatchie Town and its successor, the City of Bolivar, can be found on the following web site: http://www.cityofbolivar.info/history.htm
THE HATCHIE RIVER
49
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
X ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report was prepared by Don Dempsey and Jac Belet with the assistance of Anderson Humphreys and Monica Pope
of The Nature Conservancy.
XI AFTERWORD
Fast forward two, three or maybe four years downstream and we are confident that you will choose to visit Hardeman County.
No doubt you will have heard about its wonderful blend of family recreation, sporting activities, fabulous accommodations,
and great restaurants mixed with large doses of fun and a very rich and interesting history.
Perhaps after checking into our new boutique four-star Inn on Court Square or one of our quaint B&B’s in the historical
district, you and your family will take a stroll around Court Square, which was built during the Reconstruction period just
after the Civil War, to see what our unique shops and restaurants have to offer.
Maybe its time to hop a horse-drawn carriage ride down
Main Street through one of Bolivar’s three historical
districts. Along the way you'll hear the story of how
General Grant dressed-out General Sherman for insulting
the lady of the house at Magnolia Manor then continue
your ride down to Old Hatchie Town on the banks of the
Hatchie River. There you will begin to experience how the
original settlers lived and dealt with the Chickasaw Indians
in 1818. A short hike across the old railroad trestle bridge
to the other bank of the Hatchie will lead you to the
Muddy Rudder – a combination restaurant, entertainment
center, and outfitter shop. Here you grab some snacks and
drinks and hop the bus for the short ride up to the Route
64 put-in where your kayaks and canoes are waiting. It’s a
relaxing two-hour float down the pristine Hatchie River in
gently flowing warm water and a soft breeze as you make
your way back in time to the natural way it looked 200
years ago when the settlers first arrived or even 500 years
ago when the Chickasaws floated the Hatchie trading pelts
or traveled to their favorite hunting grounds. As you pass
under the old trestle bridge just around the bend, you’ll
spot the Muddy Rudder take-out where you can pull in
and have a relaxing lunch on the deck watching those
who chose to take a keelboat ride with Mike Fink and his
trappers up the Hatchie.
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THE HATCHIE RIVER
PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNOR
After a mouth-watering piece of homemade lemon meringue pie, you and your family can browse the Hatchie River Outfitters
Store to check out the latest in fishing gear to round out your tackle box or peruse the duck, quail, turkey or deer hunting
equipment or perhaps select the sporting attire that’s perfect for your upcoming outing. You can quiz the pros on what the
fish are biting on and just where on the Hatchie they’re hitting and maybe swap a few big fish stories while you’re at it … Oh,
you can also pick up your fishing license and reserve your johnboat for tomorrow’s fishing trip at dawn on the River. Then
you and your kids can watch and chat with a true gunsmith as he plies his trade to customize and repair someone’s favorite
rifle. He can show you his inventory of new and used guns and perhaps give you a few pointers on which interesting and
much sought-after used gun you might be able to get your hands on. He can also clue you in on some not-widely-known
hunting spots in Hardeman County and just who you might want to speak with to get permission to take down that buck
you’re after.
If you follow the path from the Muddy Rudder down to the picnic area and turn the bend, you’ll discover the Hatchie River
Museum of Ecology and Conservation … a luring architectural structure that you will not be able to resist entering. As
you marvel at the building structure and move through the Museum, you will enjoy spectacular photos of the Hatchie and
various interesting exhibits which will give you an easy, yet comprehensive understanding of the deep history and marvelous
evolution of the Hatchie River from the days of the Ice Age through the Chickasaws life on the River and on through the
early pioneers and settlers’ period right up to the present. You will be amazed at the rich fauna and flora of the Hatchie
River flood plain and you will marvel at rare species of fish …100 in all including 11 species of catfish which is possibly the
most of any North American River, 50 species of mammals, 35 species of mussels, 250 species of birds including migrating
birds along with many reptiles, amphibians and invertebrate species.
You and your children will gain an unforgettable understanding of just how early agriculture and tributary channelization
have caused the serious sedimentation problems threatening the very existence of the Hatchie today. And, your kids will
then see how the Hatchie River is being restored to its natural pristine beauty for future generations to enjoy, through the
cooperation and efforts of landowners and organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, the Hatchie River Conservancy
and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). And, it will become unmistakably evident just why the Hatchie
is considered to be “One of 75 Last Great Places on Earth Most Deserving of Protection“ and just why it is The longest
Scenic River protected under the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Act.
Perhaps now is the time to think about heading back uptown, but before doing so, maybe you’ll want to make arrangements
for tomorrow to try your hand at fly fishing … sporting clays …maybe learn what it’s like to duck hunt … or maybe arrange
a tour of the National Bird Dog Museum … Or, what about a short trip 15 minutes southeast of town to see the “Ghosts
of Davis Bridge” and experience a one-of-a-kind Civil War Battlefield where you and your kids can actually walk with both
the Union and Confederate Soldiers at the beginning and ending of that battle and actually see and feel what it was really
like to fight in that Great War ... Or, you may want a guided tour of one, two, three or all four historical districts in town
and walk around Polk Cemetery, Union Cemetery or some of the wonderful antebellum homes … You must check out the
“Trail of Tears” Exhibit – a heartbreaking story from a sad period in U.S. history - that shows the trails, one of which came
right through downtown Bolivar and crossed the Hatchie, where 15,000 Cherokees were taken on a forced march relocating
them to Oklahoma – 4,000 died … Another must is a tour of the Antique Hand Tool & Implement Museum containing the
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largest collection of historical hand tools in the United States … And then there is Lake Silerton – maybe you want to rent
a boat and go water skiing, tubing, fishing or just cruising the lake relaxing in the sun … or sign up for a trip for a tour of
one of the leading Tennessee Walking Horse training facilities five minutes north of town … or perhaps rent some horses
to ride the numerous equestrian trails along the Hatchie, Lake Silerton or even through town … maybe you might want to
get the scoop on how you go about taking flying lessons at the Bolivar/Hardeman County Airport. Why leave … this is a
fantastic place to live!
Now it’s time to rent some bikes and ride, or walk or take the horse-drawn carriage back up town for a cup of iced coffee
or lemonade and you gotta try our BBQ (there’s no better) and maybe an ice cream cone (real homemade stuff, too) as you
head back to the hotel to grab a quick nap before dining at one of the fine restaurants on Bolivar Court Square followed by
a walk down to the amphitheater for the Concert at Sunset?
This community truly has an exceptionally high quality of life to offer. It’s a great place to visit and to relocate. It is truly a
sportsman’s paradise and place where the entire family can enjoy everything from early morning fishing, afternoon floating,
nature walking, hiking, biking, jogging, and even riding the River under saddle … And it’s already here!
We know you will come! … And, perhaps even Stay!
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T H E H ATC H I E R I V E R
EXHIBIT A
Hatchie River Alliance Groups:
1. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
2. The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
3. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)
4. USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)
5. TN Stream Mitigation Program (TSMP)
6. TN Division of Forestry
7. TN Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC)
8. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
9. U.S. Corp of Engineers (USACOE)
10. Ducks Unlimited (DU)
11. West Tennessee River Basin Authority
12. TDAG – TN AG Resources and Nonpoint Source Programs (TDA-NPS)
13. Tennessee Conservation League
14. U.S. Geological Survey
15. University of Tennessee
16. University of Memphis
17. Ground Water Institute
Potential Additional Organizations:
1. Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association
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T H E H ATC H I E R I V E R
EXHIBIT B
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