Newly-Acquired Jackson, Tenn. Property Will Reduce Flooding, Provide Outdoor Opportunities

JACKSON, Tenn. - Jackson-area residents will see a reduction in flood risk and will eventually have a new place to access the outdoors thanks to the acquisition of 985 acres along the South Fork of the Forked Deer River.

"The acquisition of this property allows us to address a number of problems at once," said David Blackwood, executive director of the West Tennessee River Basin Authority. "Rivers need room and channelized rivers are limited. By reconnecting the river to the floodplain, we can reduce challenges like flash flooding and sediment pollution - improving water quality, wildlife habitat and our quality of life in the Jackson area."

The South Fork of the Forked Deer was straightened and channelized in 1916 in order to drain low-lying floodplains around Jackson. This has resulted in flash floods that damage infrastructure and fill low-lying areas with sand - despite decades of conservation efforts aimed at mitigating these problems.

"This project represents an important opportunity to reconnect the South Fork of the Forked Deer River with its historic floodplain and restore natural processes that have been disrupted for generations," said Laurel Creech, Tennessee state director for The Nature Conservancy. "The Nature Conservancy is proud to have worked alongside our partners to protect this property and advance a vision for a healthier, more resilient river system that will benefit wildlife, water quality and the broader landscape of West Tennessee."

The property is located south of U.S. Highway 70 and west of U.S. Highway 45 on the southern edge of Jackson. The property was formerly owned by the Jones Family Trust and was purchased by The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund in 2025 and sold to the State of Tennessee in 2026.

"Once restored, this remarkable property will showcase the natural beauty, history and spirit of West Tennessee," said Zachary Lesch-Huie, Tennessee state director at The Conservation Fund. "We appreciate the broad support for this conservation and restoration effort and we are pleased we could help move this project forward."

The property includes remnants of habitats that were once widespread throughout West Tennessee, including cypress swamps, cane brakes, and bottomland hardwood forests.

"As a lifelong Jackson resident, I am delighted to see so many partners come together to help restore a portion of the river that has long been dysfunctional," said Kendall McCarter, Chief Development Officer of Tennessee Wildlife Federation. "In addition to bringing back the beauty and ecology of a bottomland hardwood forest, the benefits to the hydrology and reduction of flooding will make a huge difference for an important part of our community."

The West Tennessee River Basin Authority is currently developing a plan and a timeline for restoring the property and opening it to the public, with an eye towards public education about rivers and floodplains. The restoration effort will be centered on reconnecting the river to its floodplain, which will slow water flow, reduce erosion and lessen the risk of flooding in East Jackson and Bemis communities.

"In other restored rivers around the region, we have seen wildlife diversity rebound, benefitting everything from bass to bobcats and from salamanders to songbirds," said Mahtaab Bagherzadeh, the National Wildlife Federation's senior program manager for the Mississippi River. "This project shows us how restoring nature can create wins for wildlife and our way of life."

Once the tributaries and waterways have been redesigned to minimize flood risk, the public will be invited to participate in a stakeholder-led planning process that will guide the development of public access to the property.

"Jackson-area residents should stay tuned because once we have addressed the flooding, we will be asking for public input on the community use and public access elements of this project," added Blackwood. "The community will have a chance to turn a burden into an amazing asset, something that we can be proud of."