Abbott, Tom M. Effects of coal and oil mining activities and sewage effluents on the aquatic fauna: water quality survey of the Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee. "This is a complementary report to the biological inventory assessment conducted in the Obed-Emory Watershed.  The original assessment was of benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and amphibian communities.  The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize the aquatic fauna and (2) identify areas having degraded water quality.  Eleven stations were sampled quarterly, and 16 additional stations were surveyed once to further characterize the watershed.  Results of this study showed varying degrees of water quality problems in all major tributaries in the Obed-Emory Watershed."

Ahlstedt, S.A., and Bakaletz, S.  (2005).  Assessment of freshwater mussel populations in Clear Creek, Tennessee (Emory-Obed River System) following an oil well fire and resulting spill.  Following an oil well fire that released oil and paraffin into Clear and lower White's creeks, upstream from Barnett Bridge, researchers conducted a study to determine "qualitatively and quantitatively if there were any effects on mussel populations from the oil spill and long-term effects from oil that continued to seep from the banks of the creek and stream bed."  Researchers were aware of the importance of preserving the water quality within the Obed Wild and Scenic River system to protect the threatened and endangered species found there.  

Ahlstedt, S.A., Connell, J.F., Bakaletz, S., and Fagg, M.T.  Freshwater mussels of the National Park Service's Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  This report outlines a study in which freshwater mussels were sampled to "determine species composition, abundance, and whether reproduction/recruitment was occurring to the fauna."  Nine different mussel species, including 585 individual specimens, were found at the access points at the upper Emory River, Daddy's Creek, Clear Creek, and White's Creek.  

The East Carolina University AFS Student Subunit of the American Fisheries Society. The Fifth Annual Student Colloquium.  This document briefly describes how human influence in the area surrounding the Emory River Watershed affects ecosystems within the watershed.

Emory River Watershed Development Association and TVA.  Emory River Valley:  Summary of resources.  This summary was compiled by the people of the Emory River Valley, with the help of TVA and other state agencies, to help plan the best use of the region's resources by evaluating their present economic development condition and future growth.  

Goodfred, D.W.  Characterization of benthic macroinvertebrate communities within the Emory River Watershed, Tennessee.  “Sedimentation resulting from natural and anthropogenic effects is a primary concern within the Emory River Watershed (ERW). Mining, logging, and agricultural practices, as well as urban development, occur within the ERW, and these practices generate excess sediment that can negatively influence lotic ecosystems and their resident fauna.  Macroinvertebrate communities are directly affected by sedimentation, and any streambed alteration from deposited sediment has substantial effects upon these communities.  Reductions in invertebrate abundance, density, and diversity are common with increased sediment loads. Samples were collected at 57 sites throughout the ERW using semi-quantitative (SQKICK) techniques.  Biotic index scores will be determined for all sites.  Eight additional sites were similarly sampled on a quarterly basis, and habitat variables will be evaluated to determine their influence on the benthic communities.  The objectives of this study are (1) to determine how habitat conditions and land use practices within the ERW influence benthic macroinvertebrate communities and (2) to evaluate seasonal variation in benthic communities at select locations.”

Goss, S.  The Emory River Watershed (including the Obed).  The newsletter article includes sections titled “TCWP Spearheads Land Purchase on Lower Clear Creek”, “Water Supply Project in Cumberland County Region is Under Way”, “Total Maximum Daily Load Limits Promulgated for Emory Watershed”, “Stakeholders Discuss Emory River Watershed,” and “TCWP Participates in Obed Cleanup.”  The article also describes how several regions within the Emory River Watershed are included on Tennessee’s 303(d) list because of siltation and habitat alteration.    

Hornyhead Branch restoration project.  The document attributes the Emory River Watershed Association as one of the sponsors of the Hornyhead Branch Restoration and Habitat Enhancement Project.  It also outlines the need for and specific objectives of the project.  

Howard/White Unit No. 1 oil spill NRDA Obed Wild and Scenic River, Morgan County, Tennessee. This report outlines the effects of the July 2002 oil spill in Morgan County and the fire that ensued as a result of the spill.

MS 0828:  The Tennessee Valley Authority reports, 1933-1973.  The page outlines reports available from the Tennessee Valley Authority on forest and other property purchases, and it also lists documents available on the watershed resources of selected regions.

National Parks Directory. Obed Wild and Scenic River – Tennessee.  This document provides information on the Obed Wild and Scenic River National Park.

National Park Service.  Obed National Wild and Scenic River.  This document describes the soil quality, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and physiography of the river.

The Nature Conservancy.  Obed River at Lilly Bridge.  The document briefly describes the Obed Wild and Scenic River’s landscape and when it was added to the National Park Service.

Obed Wild and Scenic River land acquisition plan.  (1980).  This report details the action taken from the 1976 amendment to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.  This amendment "authorized the addition of a portion of the Obed River and of sections of Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, and the Emory River to the Wild and Scenic Rivers system."

Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  Development plan and stream classification.  This report outlines how the Obed Wild and Scenic River would be developed according to the requirements of Public Law 90-542, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, amended by Public Law 94-486, Sec. 301-Obed.  

Ostermeier, D., Fly, M., Muth, A., Pavey, J., and Steiner, M.  Reluctant landowners:  opening the door to collaborative forestry.  This paper describes efforts toward collaborative forestry in two watersheds, one of which is the Emory-Obed, in Tennessee.  The document also provides a brief sketch of the type of forests that comprise the Emory Watershed, who owns the land, some of the sources of land impacts, and a few of the amenities that attract people to the area.  Landowners and other stakeholders were interviewed in the project, and it was discovered that their viewpoints on forestry practices differed greatly.  One problem found in the Emory Watershed was the lack of civic capital in the region.   

Parsons, J.W., and Benson, N.G.  Fertilization of Obed River, Tennessee.  This paper describes the study of the Obed River as a site for commercial fertilizers to be added to increase the fish population and compensate for losses of stream fisheries.  The management of the fishery in that region was described and evaluated.

Pennington and Associates.  (n.d.).  A survey of the Periphyton Community, Clear Creek, Tennessee.  This report outlines a project contracted by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), to survey the "periphyton communities at three locations in Clear Creek, which is located in the Obed Wild and Scenic River Watershed, Morgan County, Tennessee.  The study was initiated at the request of the NPS in response to a crude oil spill in late July 2002, into Clear Creek upstream of its confluence with White Creek.  The study period was from October 23 through December 10, 2002."     

Riddle, J.W., Jr.  Status of the native muskellunge, Esox masquinongy ohioensis, of the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee.  The thesis author describes the condition of the muskellunge population as found in a study of the watersheds of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and the Emory River.  The research showed that muskellunge populations had suffered from pollution from surface mined coal, but "limited populations remained in areas where habitat remains suitable."  The thesis also provides recommendations for muskellunge management.  

Sasser, M.A.  Indicator bacteria levels in the waters of two east Tennessee watersheds.  The author of this thesis describes a sampling project conducted in Pond Creek and the Crooked Fork-Emory Watersheds.  Both watersheds were compared for the amount of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Enterococci.  The analysis showed that indicator bacteria "exceeded ecoregion reference stream and Tennessee General Water Quality Criteria in Pond Creek at most sampling sites on most sampling dates" and indicator bacteria levels "in Crooked Fork-Emory exceeded ecoregion reference stream and Tennessee General Water Quality Criteria at some sites on some sampling dates."  

Schmalzer, P.A.  Vegetation of the Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee, and a comparison of reciprocal averaging ordination and binary discriminant analysis.  The author of this thesis describes his research project in which the Obed Wild and Scenic River was sampled.  Ten plant types were classified, and binary discriminant analysis was evaluated in this research.  

Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society 2006 Spring Meeting program.  The program lists two presentations made about the Emory River Watershed.  The first was titled “Fish Communities of the Emory River Watershed with Emphasis on Current Distribution and Seasonal Habitat Use of Spotfin Chub” and was authored by W. Russ and S.B. Cook.  The second was titled “Characterization of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities within the Emory River Watershed” and was authored by D. Goodfred and S.B. Cook.  

Speir, H.J.  Comparison of rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque) populations in Obed River and Spring Creek, Tennessee.  The thesis describes a study in which rock bass from the Obed River and Spring Creek, Tennessee, were compared based on characteristics like length, weight and type of organisms they ate.  The water bodies themselves were compared based on species composition and number and volume of bottom organisms per square foot.  

Stedman, S., and B. Stedman.  Notes on the birds of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the Obed River National Wild and Scenic River.  The document describes the "status of the 170 species of birds found within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the Obed River National Wild and Scenic River, including the abundance, dates when they were found and maximum numbers.  The scenic sites within each of the parks are also detailed."

TDEC will discuss Nonconnah watershed.  The Daily News.  The Emory Watershed was included in the 1996 TDEC planning cycle, along with the Nonconnah watershed and several others, during which a watershed water quality management plan for the region would be developed.  

Tennessee Chapter of the American Fisheries Society newsletter.  The newsletter mentions that biologist S. Brad Cook and his students are studying spotfin chub within the Emory River Watershed.  

Trapper Arne’s unique crayfish page:  catch crayfish with traps from Trapper Arne.  This page lists the states where Trapper Arne has heard that crayfish can be found.    

United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.  WRP ranking appendix for 2006-2007.  The document lists sites classified, based on the 2006-2007 Wetland Reserve Program Environmental Ranking Criteria, as habitats occupied by federal- or state-listed threatened or endangered species and regions where “restoration would enhance protection” of those species.  The Emory River floodplain was included in the list.

U.S. Department of the Interior.  (1981).  Proposed Obed National Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  Draft Environmental Statement.  This report outlines the action taken on the section "of 100 miles of the Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, and the Emory River in Cumberland, Fentress, and Morgan counties as components of the National Wild and Scenic River system, authorized by Public Law 90-542."

U.S. Department of the Interior.  (1978).  Obed National Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  Addendum to the Final Environmental Statement.  This report outlines "additional information on three proposals in the Final Environmental Statement on the establishment of an Obed National Wild and Scenic River."  

U.S. Department of the Interior.  (1978).  Statement for management.  Obed Wild and Scenic River.  This report outlines how "a portion of the Obed River, sections of Clear and Daddy's creeks, and a short section of the Emory River, were added to the Wild and Scenic River System"  and how these sections would be managed as a result of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Public Law 90-542.  

U.S. Department of the Interior.  (1974).  Proposed Obed National Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  This report is a draft environmental statement that describes proposed federal action to protect the natural resources of the 100 miles of the Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, and the Emory River in Cumberland, Fentress, and Morgan counties.

U.S. Department of the Interior.  (1972).  Proposed Obed National Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  This report is a draft environmental statement that describes the action taken within the "98 miles of the Obed River and its two chief tributaries, Clear Creek and Daddy's Creek."

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.  (1994, August).  Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee.  General management plan, development concept plan, environmental impact statement.  This report outlines the plan prepared for the "Obed Wild and Scenic River (Obed WSR) pursuant to the National Parks and Recreation Act, P.L. 95-625, and NPS policy to provide for the protection of Obed WSR values and address resource management and visitor use."  The plan was "prepared in cooperation with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and with public and agency involvement," and guides "management of the Obed WSR for approximately the next 10 to 15 years."  

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.  Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants:  establishment of a nonessential experimental population for two fishes (boulder darter and spotfin chub) in Shoal Creek, Tennessee and Alabama.  This report describes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts at reintroducing the boulder darter, a federally listed endangered fish, and the spotfin chub, a federally listed threatened fish, into Shoal Creek.  The report mentions that the Emory River system is only one of four where the spotfin chub currently exists.   

Walker, G., Parisher, E., Smith, P., Whitlock, D., Kramer, D., Matthes, U., and Morefield, L.  Characterization of plant community structure and abiotic conditions on climbed and unclimbed cliff faces in the Obed River Gorge.  This report describes a study in which the plants on cliff faces in the Obed River Gorge in Tennessee were sampled to determine what accounted for "variation in the vegetation."  

Williams, C.E., Bivens, R.D., and Carter, B.D.  (2003, May).  A crayfish survey on Clear Creek, Morgan County, Tennessee.  This report outlines a survey done by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and National Park Service to "evaluate the epigean (inhabitant of surface water) crayfish population in response to an oil spill into Clear and White creeks in 2002."  Crayfish were also collected for tissue contamination analysis.  Three sites on Clear Creek in Morgan County were studied.  

Wolfe, W.J.  Geomorphology and vegetation of alluvial bars along the Obed Wild and Scenic River.  This report describes a project initiated by the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service to understand the "distribution, morphology, composition, stability, and vegetation structure of alluvial bars along the Obed Wild and Scenic River."