Tennessee

Rivers are crucial to the economy of Tennessee. Nearly 1,000 miles of river in Tennessee are commercially navigable, the 11th highest in the nation. Five inland ports are located in the state, including the Port of Memphis, which is the fifth largest in the United States and the second largest on the Mississippi River. There are also recreational boating opportunities of all kinds within the state, including rafting, paddleboarding, kayaking, motorboating, tubing, and more. Popular whitewater rivers include the Pigeon, Nolichucky, and Ocoee rivers, attracting visitors from near and far. Additionally, Tennessee has one of the most diverse assemblages of fish in North America with at least 320 species, which include many popular game fish. As a result, superb fishing abounds throughout the state, which boasts several sportfishing world records.  Another popular activity in clear rivers in Tennessee is river snorkeling to view fish and other denizens of the water in their natural habitat.

The entirety of the state is in the Mississippi River watershed, except for a small sliver near the southeastern corner traversed by the Conasauga River, which is part of the Mobile Bay watershed.

Tennessee has approximately 61,075 miles of river, of which 45.3 miles of one river, the Obed River, are designated as wild and scenic—approximately 7/100ths of 1% of the state’s river miles.