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Conservation allies save Hatchie River watershed from auction block
The Hatchie River in McCrairy County, Tennessee is known for both its ecological value and its recreational value. TennGreen Land Conservancy
TennGreen secures protection for last unchanneled tributary of Mississippi River
Jon. D. Bumpus is TennGreen Land Conservancy communications director.
SELMER — TennGreen Land Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee, and The Conservation Fund joined forces to protect 1,273 acres of ecologically rich bottomland hardwood forest and wetlands along the Hatchie and Tuscumbia rivers in McNairy and Hardeman counties. The conservation of this land is a milestone achievement in one of Tennessee’s most treasured and threatened river systems.
Late in the fall of 2024, the Hatchie River Conservancy alerted TennGreen that the property was headed to auction in just two weeks. Time was of the essence. The tract, slated for sale in six parcels, each in separate auctions, was at risk of becoming permanently fragmented. TennGreen and partners negotiated a delay, secured an appraisal, made a direct offer, and successfully canceled the auction.
In 2025, the property was officially acquired, funded in part by the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, and is now under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). This landscape will become a publicly accessible Wildlife Management Area, providing not only critical habitat but also new opportunities for outdoor recreation in West Tennessee.
Flowing freely through the hills and bottomlands of six Tennessee counties, the Hatchie River is the last unchanneled, free-flowing tributary of the lower Mississippi River. Its 238 miles wind through dense forests, canebrakes, and swamps, supporting astonishing biodiversity.