USACE Section 10 Navigability Evidence
USACE Section 10 Navigability Evidence
Embedded Files
Federal Documentation Confirming Tennessee’s Public Waterways Are Public
Under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintains the official list of navigable waters of the United States. These rivers and streams are legally recognized as public navigation corridors and cannot be obstructed, privatized, or restricted by individual landowners.
The Tennessee Stream – Public Access Coalition (TSPAC) uses this federal evidence to defend the public’s lawful right to navigate, float, paddle, swim, and recreate on Tennessee’s waterways.
Official USACE Documentation
Official USACE Documentation
Below is the official USACE Section 10 Navigable Waters List for the Cumberland River watershed, including the Obey River system, Roaring River system, and many others.
What This Means for Landowners
What This Means for Landowners
Federal law prohibits:
Federal law prohibits:
Posting “No Trespassing” signs in the river channel
Blocking the river with fences, cables, or barriers
Threatening or removing the public from a navigable river
Claiming ownership of the water or soil beneath a Section 10 waterway
Land along the river may be private —
but the navigable river itself is public.
Why Section 10 Matters
Why Section 10 Matters
When USACE designates a waterway as “navigable,” it means:
The river is legally a public highway for navigation
Landowners cannot claim the river is private
“No Trespassing” signs cannot restrict access within the river channel
Officers must treat the waterway as federally protected
Tennessee cannot override or downgrade federal navigability
Even if the state has outdated or incomplete recognitions,
federal navigability = public access.
Obey River System
Obey River System
Obey River — Mile 0–58.2
East Fork Obey River — Mile 0–29.6
West Fork Obey River — Mile 0–20.0
Wolf River (tributary)
Roaring River System
Roaring River System
Roaring River — Mile 0–22.3
Spring Creek
Blackburn Fork
Caney Fork & Tributaries
Caney Fork & Tributaries
Caney Fork — Mile 0–134.2
Falling Water River
Collins River
Smith Fork Creek
Calfkiller River
Rocky River
Stones River System
Stones River System
Stones River — Mile 0–38.6
East Fork Stones
West Fork Stones
Harpeth River System
Harpeth River System
Harpeth River — Mile 0–114.5
Jones Creek
Turnbull Creek
South Harpeth
West Harpeth
Big South Fork System
Big South Fork System
Big South Fork
New River
Clear Fork
Rock Creek
How TSPAC Uses This Evidence
TSPAC uses USACE navigability determinations to:
How TSPAC Uses This Evidence
TSPAC uses USACE navigability determinations to:
Verify conflict reports
Support the TSPAC Public Access Conflict Map
Correct misinformation by landowners
Provide guidance to law enforcement
Advocate statewide policy updates
Support future litigation and public-access protections
What This Means for Law Enforcement
What This Means for Law Enforcement
Officers should understand:
Section 10 waterways are federally protected public highways
Standing, paddling, wading, or swimming below the ordinary high-water mark is lawful
Misclassification of public water as “private property” can violate civil rights
USACE is the authority on navigability — not county landowners
TSPAC is preparing a Law Enforcement Briefing Sheet to distribute throughout Tennessee.
Federal Evidence Confirms Tennessee Rivers Are Public.
Federal Evidence Confirms Tennessee Rivers Are Public.
TSPAC Is Protecting Your Right to Access Them.
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