Whether it's swimming, fishing, water skiing or taking the family out boating on weekends, Tennesseans and visitors alike enjoy the many recreational opportunities offered by a multitude of rivers and lakes across the state. While the majority of our rivers and lakes have good water quality, it is our goal that all of these resources fully support the uses Tennesseans want from them.

To better protect our surface waters, Tennessee has emphasized improving the operations of wastewater treatment plants. This has had a positive impact on the quality of the waters receiving discharges of treated wastewater. Over the past five years, local governments have received more than $215 million in low-cost loans to assist them in upgrading and expanding their wastewater systems. Another $48 million has been provided through Tennessee Local Development Agency loans for water and wastewater facilities.

In 1984, 50 percent of the streams evaluated by TDEC fully supported the uses for which they had been designated or classified, such as swimming and protection of fish and aquatic life. In 1994, the number of stream miles fully supporting their designated uses had risen to 66 percent. Likewise, the number of evaluated lake acres which fully support these uses increased from 62 percent to 79 percent.

Unfortunately, there are still some waters in the state which do not support one or more of their designated uses. Several of these areas have been posted as unsafe for swimming or consuming certain fish. Consider-able efforts are being directed toward cleaning up these waters by coalitions of public and private entities as well as local, state and federal agencies.

Today, most of Tennessee's water pollution comes from runoff pollution, called nonpoint sources. Uncontrolled rainwater runs into our streams and lakes carrying pollutants such as chemicals, bacteria, sediment and nutrients.

Through a new storm water permitting program, hundreds of industrial sites and construction projects have implemented plans to prevent nonpoint source pollutants from washing into our waters. With the cooperative efforts of local, state and federal agencies, some of our most impacted waters are now improving.

Nonpoint activities which disturb the land, such as channelization and construction, can also potentially damage our streams, lakes and wetlands. These activities are regulated under an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) program, which allows development to continue in a way that does not harm aquatic life. Tennessee is far ahead of most other states in protecting its aquatic resources through use of its ARAP program.

Industrial and municipal dischargers are inspected regularly, and compliance inspections are conducted frequently. Every major industry and city with a water discharge is required to have at least one compliance inspection per year.

Problem facilities are monitored to see that corrective actions produce needed results. Since 1990, over 200 water quality enforcement orders have been issued and fines of over $3.6 million have been assessed. This support has helped provide much greater protection for our state's waters.

It is Tennessee's goal to continue improving water quality with each passing year. In support of this goal, citizens, industries, cities and other dischargers have worked together to improve the quality of Tennessee's rivers and streams. The improvement of major rivers, such as the Holston, Pigeon, Nolichucky and Watauga, is something of which all Tennesseans can be justifiably proud.

The Watauga River

There are many environmental success stories in Tennessee. Among these is the Watauga River near Elizabeth-ton in Carter County. Once so polluted that only the most pollution-tolerant species of aquatic life could survive, this river now yields trophy trout. Through the joint efforts of TDEC, North American Rayon Corporation and the city of Elizabethton, this transformation is a testament to the good that can be accomplished through cooperative partnerships.

Prior to 1985, the badly polluted Watauga River and its banks had become a dumping ground for trash and other waste. David McKinney of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency once described the river as "almost completely devoid of life." Within two years after cleanup efforts began, fish and aquatic life began to return. Professional fishing guides now include the Watauga as one of the best places in the region to fish.

Interest in the river and its condition continues to grow. Residents and local environmental groups have coordinated a series of cleanups along the banks of the river. During May 1994, over 500 people participated in the Sixth Annual Carter County "Clean Streams" River Cleanup.