ABSTRACT
Electrification of the Valley inevitably became the centerpiece of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) experiment until it ultimately became the dominant activity of the agency. TVA has served all of the regions in varying degrees. But its regional focus and emphasis has changed over the decades since its creation. Strengthening of State Planning departments and fostering of state policies on parklands, industrial development, and recreational facilities were all aided and informed by the work of TVA planning staff. A regional advisory committee was set up by TVA, following the guidelines of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. TVA's stewardship activities include the operation of its dams and reservoirs, its responsibilities for navigation and flood control, and the management of the lands in its custody, water quality, wildlife, and recreation. The regional planning function within TVA was, from the beginning, subordinate to the three activities specifically defined in the original TVA Act: navigation, flood control, and hydropower generation.
