| 1936: |
TVA lists Tellico site on Little Tennessee River as one of 69 potential dam sites. |
| 1940-67: |
TVA builds more than 5 dozen dams. |
| 1959: |
TVA Chair Red Wagner proposes Tellico Dam to be primarily justified by land development and recreation benefit claims |
| 1968: |
TVA begins Tellico Dam, based on land development for “Timberlake New Town” to be built by Boeing Corp.; concrete dam built, $4 million. |
| 1972: |
Farmers and environmentalists get NEPA injunction, based on TVA’s lack of EIS. |
| 1973: |
New EIS deemed sufficient—NEPA injunction lifted.
August 12: Dr. David Etnier discovers snail darter at Coytee Springs shoal on Little T.
December 28: Richard Nixon signs Endangered Species Act [ESA]. |
| 1975: |
Boeing abandons Timberlake project, citing economic impracticality.
Citizens’ petition to federal Department of Interior granted to list snail darter as endangered, critical habitat, under ESA §7. |
| 1976: |
District Judge Robert Taylor finds ESA §7 violation, but declines
injunction. |
| 1977: |
Sixth Circuit grants injunction. |
| 1978: |
April 18: oral argument before Supreme Court.
June 15: Supreme Court upholds injunction. |
| 1979: |
Jan. 29: Cabinet-level God Committee, created by Baker-Culver ESA Amendments, unanimously upholds snail darter injunction on economic grounds.
July-Sept.: Sen. Baker and Rep. John Duncan push appropriations rider overruling ESA and other laws; Pres. Jimmy Carter fails to veto override; Cherokees file religious freedom lawsuit; Judge Taylor dismisses; 6th Cir. affirms; S.Ct. denies cert.
Nov. 29: reservoir completed and river impounded. |
| 1982: |
No economic activity; TVA proposes use of valley as regional toxic waste facility; citizens’ public outcry sinks proposal. |
| 1984: |
TVA begins cooperation with Wal-Mart-linked developers to create high-income resort home development. |
| 1984ff: |
Some light industrial development locates near Hwy. 411; extensive flat water recreation around lake; several communities of high-income resort homes; darter transplants allow downlisting to “threatened” status. |
