Buffalo River (Tennessee)
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo River is the longest unimpounded river in Middle
Tennessee
in the United States, flowing 125 miles (201.2 km) through the southern and western portions of that region. It is the largest tributary of the Duck River
and is used for canoe
ing, especially in its middle section. The river is named for the Buffalo fish
which was abundant when the first European settlers arrived.
of these two forks about a mile west of that highway is considered to be the head of the Buffalo.
. The confluence with the Little Buffalo River
is in Lewis County as well, along with that of several other more minor tributaries. The stream is paralleled for a distance and then crossed by State Route 99 while flowing through the broad Texas Bottoms. In Lewis County, although meander
ing, the course of the stream is basically westward. Entering into northern Wayne County
, the stream receives several more tributaries, most notably the Green River
.
A few miles below the mouth of the Green River near the community of Flatwoods, the Buffalo is bridged by State Route 13
and then turns to run a northerly course for the balance of its flow. It also crosses into Perry County near here. For most of its flow through Perry County, the Buffalo is roughly paralleled by State Route 13. Shortly after crossing into Humphreys County
, it is bridged by Interstate 40
. A few miles north of this is its confluence with the Duck
.
The only incorporated towns along the Buffalo, Linden
and Lobelville
, are located in Perry County. Two unincorporated communities are adjacent to the river in Perry County, Flatwoods
and Beardstown.
is the total land area that drains into the Buffalo River. It is designated as Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 06040004 by the USGS
. It empties into watershed 06040003, the Lower Duck River watershed.
The Buffalo River watershed is composed of three sub-watersheds; two sections of the Buffalo River and the Cane Creek sub-watershed. The southeastern part of the Buffalo River watershed is HUC 0604000401. It includes the headwaters of the Buffalo plus the Little Buffalo River and both Chief Creek and Fortyeight Creek. The western side and northern one-third of the watershed is HUC 0604000402. It reaches from the Green River in Wayne County at the southern end to the mouth of the Buffalo in Humphreys County. Cane Creek, the third part of the watershed is HUC 0604000403. It includes both Upper and Lower Cane Creek and stretches from the headwaters of Cane Creek near Hohenwald
in Lewis County to the mouth of Cane Creek at Beardstown in Perry County.
The Buffalo River watershed contains 1,200 miles of tributary streams and 349 lake acres of impounded water in ponds and water stored behind 10 dams. These dams are primarily in the southeastern portion of the watershed. The majority of the impounded water is in Laurel Hill Lake with 329 acres (133.1 ha) with an additional 22 acres (8.9 ha) in the VFW Lake. TDEC
has also identified some wetlands sites in the southeastern portion of the watershed.
, 3% is evergreen
, and 4% is mixed forest. The second significant land use is agricultural crops. Pasture
and hay
fields account for 10% of of the area while row crops occupy another 8%. Residential and commercial areas occupy less than 0.5% of the land.
The soil in the watershed is primarily loam
with some silty loam. The soil pH
varies from about 4.85 to 5.45. Portions of the area are characterized by karst
topography.
and other non-game fish such as drum
. The largest aquatic animal often found in the Buffalo is the alligator snapping turtle
; which is in fact often caught (unintentionally for the most part) on trot and limb lines. These can easily weigh 50 pounds (22.7 kg) or more.
TDEC lists 48 rare plant and animal species
in the watershed. Rarity typically results from either a small population or a very restricted range. The non-aquatic species include 18 plants
, one mammal
, three birds
, two reptiles
, one amphibian
, three insects
and spiders
, and one other invertebrate
, There are 20 aquatic
species associated with the river or its tributaries; 12 fish, one crustacean
, three mussel
s, and four snail
s.
(Saddled Madtom), and one Cavefish
(Southern Cavefish
). Most of the identified darters are listed as either Threatened or Endangered
by either the State or Federal government.
is a rare crayfish
species found near the Buffalo.
s are among the rare species listed by TDEC. Both the Cracking Pearly Mussel and the Pale Lilliput are listed by both State and Federal authorities as Endangered.
are found near the Buffalo; none of them are included by TDEC on species concerns lists.
, rolling terrain in this area is of long ridges with fairly steep sides and deeply eroded hollows into those ridges, with the river in a wide flood plain
of "bottom land". The elevation typically varies from 400 to 1000 ft (121.9 to 304.8 m).
The predominant geology of the area is that of Paleozoic
limestone
s. The Mississippian limestone base along with chert and shale
is overlaid by fairly thin soils of moderate fertility that tend to be acidic. Much of the diffential erosion
leading to the terrain features is a result of the differences in deposition and mineralization
of the various types of limestone in the area and the presence of large portions of chert
. Some of the chert bears small quantities of the iron-containing mineral hematite
or other oxides of iron. During the mid-to-late 19th century there was considerable iron-ore related mining and smelting of Limonite
ore.
The sizable tributary streams mostly flow out of fairly narrow hollows into the Buffalo; only the largest ones have true stream valley
s of their own. Streams are fairly clear with a moderate gradient
.
operates Grimes Canoe Base along the Buffalo in southern Perry County. A number of businesses provide commercial canoe and float access to the river for tourists. The river is primarily a Class I
stream with significant stretches of flat water. Free float tubing is feasible in selected portions of the river.
There are three trails associated with the river.
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee....
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
in the United States, flowing 125 miles (201.2 km) through the southern and western portions of that region. It is the largest tributary of the Duck River
Duck River (Tennessee)
The Duck River, long, is the longest river located entirely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. Free flowing for most of its length, the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.The...
and is used for canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing, especially in its middle section. The river is named for the Buffalo fish
Ictiobus
Ictiobus, also known as Buffalo fish, is a genus of freshwater fish common in the United States. It is sometimes mistaken for carp because of its flat face and large, silver scales running along the body, though it lacks the whisker-like mouth appendages common to carp...
which was abundant when the first European settlers arrived.
Source
The Buffalo rises in northern Lawrence County. Both the North and South Forks are crossed by U.S. Highway 43, the North Fork several times as it parallels that highway for about 3 miles (5 km). The confluenceConfluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of these two forks about a mile west of that highway is considered to be the head of the Buffalo.
Course
From the confluence, the Buffalo trends basically northwest for several miles, crossing into Lewis County, where it is crossed by the Natchez Trace ParkwayNatchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a National Park Service unit in the southeastern United States that commemorates the historic Old Natchez Trace and preserves sections of the original trail....
. The confluence with the Little Buffalo River
Little Buffalo River (Tennessee)
The Little Buffalo River is an tributary of the Buffalo River in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Via the Buffalo, Duck, Tennessee, and Ohio rivers, it reaches the Mississippi River....
is in Lewis County as well, along with that of several other more minor tributaries. The stream is paralleled for a distance and then crossed by State Route 99 while flowing through the broad Texas Bottoms. In Lewis County, although meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing, the course of the stream is basically westward. Entering into northern Wayne County
Wayne County, Tennessee
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,021 people, 5,822 households, and 4,321 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
, the stream receives several more tributaries, most notably the Green River
Green River (Tennessee)
The Green River is a tributary of the Buffalo River in Tennessee. By the Buffalo River and the Duck River it is a tributary of the Tennessee River. The Green River is one of the main streams of Wayne County. Situated in the southwestern corner of Middle Tennessee along the Alabama line, Wayne...
.
A few miles below the mouth of the Green River near the community of Flatwoods, the Buffalo is bridged by State Route 13
Tennessee State Route 13
State Route 13 is a south–north route from the Alabama border at Wayne County, Tennessee to the Kentucky border in Montgomery County.- Route description :...
and then turns to run a northerly course for the balance of its flow. It also crosses into Perry County near here. For most of its flow through Perry County, the Buffalo is roughly paralleled by State Route 13. Shortly after crossing into Humphreys County
Humphreys County, Tennessee
Humphreys County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 17,929. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 18,212. Its county seat is Waverly.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, it is bridged by Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
. A few miles north of this is its confluence with the Duck
Duck River (Tennessee)
The Duck River, long, is the longest river located entirely within the U.S. state of Tennessee. Free flowing for most of its length, the Duck River is home to over 50 species of freshwater mussels and 151 species of fish, making it one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America.The...
.
Watershed
The upper part of the Buffalo River, in Lawrence County, is designated as a "State Scenic River" under the Tennessee Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.The only incorporated towns along the Buffalo, Linden
Linden, Tennessee
Linden is a town in and the county seat of Perry County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,015 at the 2000 census. Linden was officially incorporated in 1850.Linden is served by Perry County Airport, located 3.5 miles to the southwest....
and Lobelville
Lobelville, Tennessee
Lobelville is a city in Perry County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 915 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lobelville is located at ....
, are located in Perry County. Two unincorporated communities are adjacent to the river in Perry County, Flatwoods
Flat Woods, Tennessee
Flat Woods is an unincorporated community in Perry County, Tennessee, United States. It lies along State Route 13 south of the town of Linden, the county seat of Perry County. Its elevation is 676 feet .The Bromley Hotel in Flatwoods is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
and Beardstown.
Hydrology
The Buffalo River watershedDrainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
is the total land area that drains into the Buffalo River. It is designated as Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 06040004 by the USGS
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
. It empties into watershed 06040003, the Lower Duck River watershed.
The Buffalo River watershed is composed of three sub-watersheds; two sections of the Buffalo River and the Cane Creek sub-watershed. The southeastern part of the Buffalo River watershed is HUC 0604000401. It includes the headwaters of the Buffalo plus the Little Buffalo River and both Chief Creek and Fortyeight Creek. The western side and northern one-third of the watershed is HUC 0604000402. It reaches from the Green River in Wayne County at the southern end to the mouth of the Buffalo in Humphreys County. Cane Creek, the third part of the watershed is HUC 0604000403. It includes both Upper and Lower Cane Creek and stretches from the headwaters of Cane Creek near Hohenwald
Hohenwald, Tennessee
Hohenwald is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,754 at the 2000 census. The name "Hohenwald" is a German word that means "High Forest". The town was founded in 1878 and later merged with a town named "New Switzerland" to the south. New...
in Lewis County to the mouth of Cane Creek at Beardstown in Perry County.
The Buffalo River watershed contains 1,200 miles of tributary streams and 349 lake acres of impounded water in ponds and water stored behind 10 dams. These dams are primarily in the southeastern portion of the watershed. The majority of the impounded water is in Laurel Hill Lake with 329 acres (133.1 ha) with an additional 22 acres (8.9 ha) in the VFW Lake. TDEC
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is a Cabinet-level agency within the government of the U.S. state of Tennessee, headed by the Tennessee Commissioner of Environment and Conservation....
has also identified some wetlands sites in the southeastern portion of the watershed.
Land Use
Land within the watershed is primarily forest land; 69% being deciduousDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
, 3% is evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
, and 4% is mixed forest. The second significant land use is agricultural crops. Pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
and hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
fields account for 10% of of the area while row crops occupy another 8%. Residential and commercial areas occupy less than 0.5% of the land.
The soil in the watershed is primarily loam
Loam
Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration . Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils...
with some silty loam. The soil pH
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
varies from about 4.85 to 5.45. Portions of the area are characterized by karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
topography.
Natural history
The Buffalo is rich in aquatic life. Fishing it through passive methods such as limb and trot lines is traditional. There are many catfishCatfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
and other non-game fish such as drum
Sciaenidae
Sciaenidae is a family of fish commonly called drums, croakers, or hardheads for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make...
. The largest aquatic animal often found in the Buffalo is the alligator snapping turtle
Alligator Snapping Turtle
The alligator snapping turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It is not closely related to, but is often associated with the common snapping turtle. They are the sole living member of the genus Macrochelys--while common snappers are in the genus Chelydra...
; which is in fact often caught (unintentionally for the most part) on trot and limb lines. These can easily weigh 50 pounds (22.7 kg) or more.
TDEC lists 48 rare plant and animal species
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
in the watershed. Rarity typically results from either a small population or a very restricted range. The non-aquatic species include 18 plants
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
, one mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
, three birds
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
, two reptiles
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
, one amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
, three insects
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
and spiders
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
, and one other invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
, There are 20 aquatic
Aquatic animal
An aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract its oxygen from that dissolved in water through specialised organs called gills, or directly through its skin. Natural environments and the animals that...
species associated with the river or its tributaries; 12 fish, one crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
, three mussel
Mussel
The common name mussel is used for members of several families of clams or bivalvia mollusca, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.The...
s, and four snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s.
Fish
Identified rare fish in the Buffalo include eight varieties of Darters, one catfishMadtom
Madtoms or stonecats are catfishes of the genus Noturus of the family Ictaluridae. It is the most speciose group of catfish in North America....
(Saddled Madtom), and one Cavefish
Cavefish
The Amblyopsidae, are commonly named: cavefish, blindfish, swampfish, etc. They are small cyprinodont freshwater fishes found in swamps, caves and some deep lakes, adapted to life in the dark...
(Southern Cavefish
Typhlichthys subterraneus
Typhlichthys subterraneus is a species of fish in the Amblyopsidae family. It is endemic to karst regions of the eastern United States.-Taxonomy:...
). Most of the identified darters are listed as either Threatened or Endangered
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
by either the State or Federal government.
- Ammocrypta vivax, Scaly Sand DarterScaly sand darterThe scaly sand darter is a species of freshwater fish endemic to the southeastern United States.-Description:The scaly sand darter grows to between in length. It has nine to sixteen spots on each side, with irregular dark blotches on the back, with dark bands on the dorsal, caudal and spinal fins...
- Cyprinella monacha, Spotfin ChubTurquoise ShinerThe turquoise shiner is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family.It is found only in the United States. It is also called the Chromium shiner or spotfin chub.-Source:...
– Federal Threatened status - Etheostoma aquali, Coppercheek DarterCoppercheek darterThe Coppercheek darter is a species of fish in the Percidae family. It is endemic to the United States.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
– State level Threatened status - Etheostoma boschungi, Slackwater DarterSlackwater darterThe Slackwater Darter, is a small fish of the stippled darter group. The slackwater darter has a conspicuous dark subocular bar and three prominent saddles. It is rather drab in color, the dorsum being dusky, olivaceous, or brownish. The lateral blotches are dark brown to blue-black...
– Federal Threatened status - Etheostoma cinereum, Ashy DarterAshy darterThe ashy darter is a species of fish in the Percidae family. It is endemic to the United States.-References:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
– State level Threatened status - Etheostoma denoncourtiEtheostoma denoncourtiThe common name of Etheostoma denoncourti is the golden darter. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee....
, Golden Darter - Etheostoma pseudovulatumEtheostoma pseudovulatumThe common name of Etheostoma pseudovulatum is the egg-mimic darter. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee....
, Egg-Mimic Darter – State level Endangered status - Percina burtoni, Blotchside Darter
- Percina macrocephalaPercina macrocephalaThe common name of Percina macrocephala is the longhead darter. It is one of the 324 fish species found in Tennessee....
, Longhead Darter – State level Threatened status
Crustacean
The Alabama crayfish, Orconectes alabamensisOrconectes alabamensis
Orconectes alabamensis, the Alabama crayfish, is a species of freshwater crayfish that lives in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.-Description:...
is a rare crayfish
Crayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
species found near the Buffalo.
Mussels
Three species of musselFreshwater mollusc
Freshwater molluscs are those members of the Phylum Mollusca which live in freshwater habitats, both lotic such as rivers, streams, canals, springs, and underground cave streams and lentic such as lakes, ponds , and ditches.This article is about freshwater Mollusca in general; for information on...
s are among the rare species listed by TDEC. Both the Cracking Pearly Mussel and the Pale Lilliput are listed by both State and Federal authorities as Endangered.
- Hemistena lata, Cracking Pearly Mussel
- Quadrilla cylindrical cylindrical, RabbitsfootRabbitsfootThe rabbitsfoot, scientific name Quadrula cylindrica, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.This species is endemic to the United States.- Subspecies :...
- Toxolasma cylindrellus, Pale LilliputPale lilliput naiadThe pale lilliput naiad, pale lilliput pearly mussel, or pale lilliput, scientific name Toxolasma cylindrellus, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.-Distribution:...
Snails
Four species of rare snailsGastropoda
The Gastropoda or gastropods, more commonly known as snails and slugs, are a large taxonomic class within the phylum Mollusca. The class Gastropoda includes snails and slugs of all kinds and all sizes from microscopic to quite large...
are found near the Buffalo; none of them are included by TDEC on species concerns lists.
- Leptoxis praerosa, Onyx RocksnailMainstream river snailThe mainstream river snail, also known as the onyx rocksnail, scientific name Leptoxis praerosa, is a species of freshwater snail with a gill and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Pleuroceridae. This species is endemic to the United States.-References:* Bogan, A.E. 1996. . ...
- Lithasia duttoniana, Helmet RocksnailDutton's river snailDutton's river snail also known as the helmet rocksnail, scientific name Lithasia duttoniana, is a species of freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Pleuroceridae. This species is endemic to the United States....
- Lithasia geniculata fuliginosa, Geniculate Rocksnail
- Lithasia geniculata fulginosa, Geniculate RiversnailGeniculate river snailThe geniculate river snail or ornate rocksnail, scientific name Lithasia geniculata, is a species of freshwater snails with an operculum, aquatic gastropod mollusks in the family Pleuroceridae. This species is endemic to the United States....
Geology
All except a very small section on the southern end of the watershed is part of the Western Highland Rim, one of 25 Level IV subecoregions in the state. The dissectedDissected plateau
A dissected plateau is a plateau area that has been severely eroded so that the relief is sharp. Such an area may be referred to as mountainous, but dissected plateaus are distinguishable from orogenic mountain belts by the lack of folding, metamorphism, extensive faulting, or magmatic activity...
, rolling terrain in this area is of long ridges with fairly steep sides and deeply eroded hollows into those ridges, with the river in a wide flood plain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
of "bottom land". The elevation typically varies from 400 to 1000 ft (121.9 to 304.8 m).
The predominant geology of the area is that of Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
s. The Mississippian limestone base along with chert and shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
is overlaid by fairly thin soils of moderate fertility that tend to be acidic. Much of the diffential erosion
Differential weathering
Differential weathering is the difference in degree of discoloration, disintegration, etc., of rocks of different kinds exposed to the same environment...
leading to the terrain features is a result of the differences in deposition and mineralization
Mineralization (geology)
In geology, mineralization is the hydrothermal deposition of economically important metals in the formation of ore bodies or "lodes".The first scientific studies of this process took place in Cornwall, United Kingdom by J.W.Henwood FRS and later by R.W...
of the various types of limestone in the area and the presence of large portions of chert
Chert
Chert is a fine-grained silica-rich microcrystalline, cryptocrystalline or microfibrous sedimentary rock that may contain small fossils. It varies greatly in color , but most often manifests as gray, brown, grayish brown and light green to rusty red; its color is an expression of trace elements...
. Some of the chert bears small quantities of the iron-containing mineral hematite
Hematite
Hematite, also spelled as haematite, is the mineral form of iron oxide , one of several iron oxides. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, and it has the same crystal structure as ilmenite and corundum...
or other oxides of iron. During the mid-to-late 19th century there was considerable iron-ore related mining and smelting of Limonite
Limonite
Limonite is an ore consisting in a mixture of hydrated iron oxide-hydroxide of varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as FeO·nH2O, although this is not entirely accurate as limonite often contains a varying amount of oxide compared to hydroxide.Together with hematite, it has...
ore.
The sizable tributary streams mostly flow out of fairly narrow hollows into the Buffalo; only the largest ones have true stream valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
s of their own. Streams are fairly clear with a moderate gradient
Stream gradient
Stream gradient is the grade measured by the ratio of drop in a stream per unit distance, usually expressed as feet per mile or metres per kilometre.-Hydrology and geology:A high gradient indicates a steep slope and rapid flow of water Stream gradient is the grade (slope) measured by the ratio of...
.
Economy
Canoeing float trips make a considerable contribution to the area's economy, which is fairly depressed compared to that of the state as a whole because of the general remoteness of the area. The Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
operates Grimes Canoe Base along the Buffalo in southern Perry County. A number of businesses provide commercial canoe and float access to the river for tourists. The river is primarily a Class I
International Scale of River Difficulty
The International Scale of River Difficulty is a standardized scale used to rate the safety of a stretch of river, or a single rapid. The grade reflects the technical difficulty and skill level required associated with the section of river...
stream with significant stretches of flat water. Free float tubing is feasible in selected portions of the river.
There are three trails associated with the river.
- Buffalo River – Perry County – A scenic water trailWater trailWater trails or Blueways are marked routes on navigable waterways such as rivers, lakes, canals and coastlines for people using small non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, rafts, or rowboats. Some trails may be suitable for float tubing...
through nature – 37.87 miles (60.9 km) - Ladies Bluff Trail – Perry County – A scenic, hiking, wilderness trail – 2 miles (3.2 km) – Partially ADA compliant
- Linden City Park Walking Trail – Perry County – Health and fitness trail 0.2 miles (321.9 m) – ADA compliant