Little River Watershed Association
The Little River originates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Clingman’s Dome at over 6,600 feet in elevation and flows 60 miles through the cities of Townsend, Alcoa, and Maryville and portions of Blount, Knox, and Sevier Counties in the state of Tennessee. Rapid residential and commercial development threatens to further deteriorate the quality of the Little River. TDEC has classified 18 miles of the Little River as threatened due to a documented decline in species diversity. This 18-mile section supports several protected aquatic species, provides municipal water for most of Blount County, and is heavily used for recreational purposes.