Sediment from off-road vehicles clogging Tennessee waters

Off-road recreational vehicle use generates a tremendous amount of sediment, which can flow into nearby streams and cause them major harm. In fact, sediment is the most common pollutant in our rivers, streams, and lakes. In Tennessee, the problem is particularly acute: Most ORV parks have neither a sediment discharge permit nor a stormwater permit, and many operate in wilderness areas near Extraordinary Tennessee Waters.

In partnership with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Tennessee Environmental Council, SELC is identifying ORV parks in areas of high conservation value and developing legal strategies to encourage—or compel—them to obtain and comply with appropriate permits.