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The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, affectionately known as the Tenn-Tom, is located in the Mobile
District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It joins the Tennessee River in Northeast Mississippi
with the old Tombigbee River near Amory, Mississippi. The Tenn-Tom is 234 miles long and runs from
Yellow Creek Port near Picwick Lake to Demopolis, Alabama. It has 10 lakes, made from 10 locks and
dams that allow for a shorter navigational route from the interior United States to the Gulf of
Mexico.
The Tenn-Tom has 3 major functions – Navigation, Wildlife Mitigation and Recreation. Navigating the
Tenn-Tom as opposed to taking the Mississippi river saves companies over 800 miles to the Coast and
about $130,000,000 annually. The Wildlife Mitigation Program, which includes over 70,000 acres of land
on the Tenn-Tom and another 100,000+ acres at other areas, provides wildlife opportunities for everyone,
whether it is bird watching or deer hunting. Last but certainly not least, the Recreation Program provides
opportunities for boating, picnicking, swimming and camping.
Below you will find information about the Recreation Program on the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Scroll through the information below or click on the tables to see a
specific area. Many of the links are associated with
documents which are stored in Adobe's
Portable Document Format (PDF) and require Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view and print.
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Campgrounds |
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There are seven class-A campgrounds located on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, each unique park
providing for many memorable camping experiences. All campgrounds provide water and electric hookups,
sanitary dump stations, handicap accessible sites and facilities, playgrounds and multi-use courts,
as well as being convenient to boat ramps. Some have fish cleaning stations and sewer hookups. Each
site has a impact pad, grill, fire-ring, picnic table and lantern post. Campgrounds on the Tenn-Tom
open at 6 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. and there are
Park Attendants or
Volunteer Park Hosts available
for assistance.
Our campgrounds have a number of sites that may be reserved through the
National Recreation
Reservation System. Reservations for camping on the Tenn-Tom can be made from March 1 – September 15.
First-come/first-serve sites are available year-round.
Costs for sites range from $10 to $20 per night. Those with an America the Beautiful
Senior Pass or
Access Pass pay
half price.
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Boating |
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With 10 lakes, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway has over 44,000 surface acres of water for boaters to
enjoy. Many public boat ramps (or access areas) are conveniently located along the waterway, as well
as several private
Marinas that provide fuel, supplies, boat repair, rentals and other boater needs.
There is a $3.00 launching fee at some of the Corps of Engineers operated boat ramps. This is a per
day fee that can be paid at a fee box if there is not an attendant available. An
Annual Pass is a
yearly pass that is available and allows a visitor to enter an area without paying a per day fee.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS - It’s up to you.
Each land or water related activity provides not only enjoyment and challenges to visitors, but
inherent dangers as well. When these dangers are combined with the inexperience or inattention of the
participant, accidents are likely to occur. In order to avoid these potential accidents, the following is
a list of safety precautions that are suggested to help insure everyone’s safety.
- Be alert to underwater hazards such as submerged stumps, logs and rocks that are present in the
lake.
- Be especially careful when approaching the shoreline because depth of water will vary from time
to time and from place to place.
- Be alert to hazards such as poisonous plants, insects and snakes that exist in the woodlands.
- Keep children under close supervision at all times.
- Wear life jackets (Personal Floatation Device, or PFD) at all times (especially children).
- Abstain from the use of alcohol while on the water.
- File a floatation plan with someone to let them know where you will be and when you plan to
return.
- Swim in designated "swim areas". Designated areas are maintained to provide for a safe swimming
area without debris or washouts on the swim floor.
- Know or learn how to swim. No lifeguards are available at Corps of Engineers Beaches.
- WATCH YOUR WAKE! Each boater is responsible for their wake and the damage it may cause.
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Water Safety Programs |
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Park Rangers on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway give numerous Water Safety Programs each year to
individuals ranging in age from school children to adults. For information about setting up an on- or
off-site water safety program, please call the Bay Springs Resource Office at (662) 423-1287 or the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Management Office at (662) 327-2142.
WEARING A LIFE JACKET CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE….
- There should be one Life Jacket per person on board a boat.
- Each individual should have a Life Jacket that fits him or her.
- Life Jackets should be in good condition. No holes, tears, etc.
- Life Jackets should be accessible. Not stowed under the seat, etc.
- It won’t work if you don’t wear it.
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Day Use Parks
(Picnic Areas) |
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The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway offers many day use
areas to provide visitors a place to enjoy picnicking,
swimming, boating, and fishing, as well as just plain
relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. Facilities in the
Tenn-Tom's Day Use Areas include courtesy docks for
fishing, playgrounds, multi-use courts for basketball,
tennis, volleyball, or bat-mitten, nature trails,
beaches, boat ramps, and picnic tables and pavilions.
Day Use Areas are great places for families or other
large groups to meet and enjoy the outdoors. Some
pavilions can be reserved from March 15 - September 15
for gatherings. If not reserved, pavilions are available
on a first-come, first serve basis. For large gatherings
or special activities, and
Event Permit may be needed.
Shelter Reservation Policy
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All pavilions are first-come/first
serve unless they are reserved.
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Reservations can be made starting on
January 2nd for the period March 15 through September
15.
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Reservations can be made Monday-Friday
from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. From Amory, Mississippi
north call (662) 423-1287. From Amory, Mississippi
south call (662) 327-2142.
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Payment for pavilions should be
received within 14 days of making a reservation.
Failure to receive payment with this time will result
in the reservation being cancelled.
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Discount Passes are
not accepted for pavilion reservations.
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Recreation Area Use Fees still apply
to visitors with a pavilion reservation entering day
use areas with this fee (Piney Grove Beach, Old Bridge
Beach and Dewayne Hayes Day Use Area), unless a
visitor has an
Annual Pass.
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Visitors who reserve a pavilion should
keep a copy of their receipt with them as proof of
their reservation.
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Reservation fees are non-refundable.
However, an effort will be made to allow visitors to
reschedule their reservation.
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All
Title 36 Rules and Regulations are
enforced.
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Pavilions may be reserved on holidays.
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Reservations are only valid during
normal park hours.
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Fishing |
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There are 44,000 acres of surface water comprised of 10 lakes that make up the Tenn-Tom Waterway.
Within these lakes there are 50+ old ponds, old river runs, tributary streams, oxbows, cut-offs,
pool sections and channels that provide a variety of habitat for many species of fish, including warm
and cold water. Important predatory game fish are the largemouth bass, spotted bass, hybrid striped
bass, walleye, sauger, and crappie. Prey species include shad, minnows, silversides, sunfish, and
darters. In addition, channel, blue, and flathead catfish, chain pickerel, bowfin, buffalo, and
redhorse can be found in these abundant waters.
Fisheries management on the Tenn-Tom places a strong emphasis on providing a quality fishery,
improving aquatic resources, and protecting the environment. Work is accomplished with the assistance
from project personnel cooperating with other natural resource management agencies.
The Fishing Areas listed below are generally located along spillway structures. In addition to
these locations, most recreational areas provide fishing docks and areas for bank fishing. Scroll down
or click on the table to see a specific area. |
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