RECREATION

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.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the topics on this page please call for more information at 662-327-2142.

Or write:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
3606 West Plymouth Road
Columbus, Mississippi 39701-9504

Campgrounds

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 – October 31. 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.

Boating

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.

1. Be alert to underwater hazards such as submerged stumps, logs and rocks that are present in the lake.
2. Be especially careful when approaching the shoreline because depth of water will vary from time to time and from place to place.
3. Be alert to hazards such as poisonous plants, insects and snakes that exist in the woodlands.
4. Keep children under close supervision at all times.
5. Wear life jackets (Personal Floatation Device, or PFD) at all times (especially children).
6. Abstain from the use of alcohol while on the water.
7. File a floatation plan with someone to let them know where you will be and when you plan to return.
8. Swim in designated "swim areas". Designated areas are maintained to provide for a safe swimming area without debris or washouts on the swim floor.
9. Know or learn how to swim. No lifeguards are available at Corps of Engineers Beaches.
10. WATCH YOUR WAKE! Each boater is responsible for their wake and the damage it may cause.

Water Safety Programs

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….

1. There should be one Life Jacket per person on board a boat.
2. Each individual should have a Life Jacket that fits him or her.
3. Life Jackets should be in good condition. No holes, tears, etc.
4. Life Jackets should be accessible. Not stowed under the seat, etc.
5. It won’t work if you don’t wear it.

Day Use Parks
(Picnic Areas)

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, an Event Permit may be needed.

Shelter Reservation Policy

• All pavilions are first-come/first serve unless they are reserved.
• Reservations can be made starting on January 2nd for the period March 15 through September 15.
• 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.
• 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.
• Discount Passes are not accepted for pavilion reservations.
• 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.
• Visitors who reserve a pavilion should keep a copy of their receipt with them as proof of their reservation.
• Reservation fees are non-refundable. However, an effort will be made to allow visitors to reschedule their reservation.
• All Title 36 Rules and Regulations are enforced.
• Pavilions may be reserved on holidays.
• Reservations are only valid during normal park hours.

Fishing

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.