Study: TVA lakes have nearly $12 billion economic impact to region
The Tennessee Valley Authority was created in 1933 to harness the power of the Tennessee River with hydroelectric dams, flood control and river navigation.
But a new study suggests the 49 reservoirs built by TVA through its network on dams on the Tennessee River have also proven to be an economic powerhouse from lake visitors and property owners using the TVA lakes for pleasure boating, fishing, water skiing and other recreational and entertainment investments.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture estimates the combination of aquatic recreation and waterfront property along the Tennessee Valley Authority’s managed river system last year created $11.9 billion in annual economic impact in the Tennessee Valley — the equivalent of more than $1 million per shoreline mile. Those investments supported an estimated 130,000 jobs.