TN groups aim to restore South Fork of Forked Deer River floodplains
Conservation groups are celebrating the acquisition of 985 acres of land along the south fork of the Forked Deer River in West Tennessee to help restore the area’s natural landscape. For more than a century, low-lying floodplains near Jackson have been drained to accommodate railways, highways and row-crop farming, exposing residents to flash floods and disrupting wildlife habitats. Kendall McCarter, chief development officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, hopes to see the return of towering oak and hickory trees and aquatic species, like mussels, to help filter the river. "To think that we can bring that back to this area of the community that is really not very attractive but also ecologically lifting what is there, is just really cool," McCarter emphasized. McCarter credited a coalition of conservation groups working with area residents to secure the state’s purchase of the land. He said once the flood risk is minimized, the public can help plan and develop the rest of the project. Some of the ideas being floated include recreational trails, a nature center and new areas for kayaking. The West Tennessee River Basin Authority is developing a restoration timeline, which also includes public education about rivers and floodplains. The project
