On April 9, 2026, nearly 100 members, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners gathered at the Yacht Club at Tellico Village to celebrate a milestone 25 years of WATeR — the Watershed Association of the Tellico Reservoir.
The two-hour luncheon honored the organization's past, recognized its founders, and looked ahead to the next generation of environmental stewardship for Tellico Lake and its surrounding watershed.
A quarter century of impact
Since its founding in 2001, WATeR has grown into a powerful, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization with lasting impact across the region. Among its most significant achievements is the creation of the 31-mile East Lakeshore Trail — built over 12 years in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority and later designated a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
WATeR's environmental work spans shoreline stabilization, riparian restoration, livestock exclusion fencing, regular E. coli monitoring, and a multi-year collaboration with the University of Tennessee that led to the identification and DNA sequencing of a new algae strain — Synechococcus "Tanasi" — contributing to published microbiological research and informing future watershed management.
Founders' Award for Outstanding Service
The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of WATeR's inaugural Founders' Award for Outstanding Service to Bill and Marjorie Waldrop, WATeR's surviving founding members. The award, established in 2026 to honor those whose sustained leadership has shaped the organization, recognized the Waldrops' enduring vision and decades of commitment to preserving the ecological health of Tellico Reservoir.
Environmental Leadership Scholarship
WATeR also presented its first Bill & Marjorie Waldrop Environmental Leadership Scholarship to Chloe Alysse Saffles, a senior at Sequoyah High School in Madisonville. The scholarship recognizes a high school student whose initiative and service has contributed meaningfully to environmental protection in the Tellico region — affirming that the future of conservation depends on inspiring the next generation.
Loudon County Proclamation
Loudon County Mayor Buddy Bradshaw attended the luncheon and presented an official proclamation honoring WATeR for 25 years of service to the community, recognizing the organization's contributions to water quality, trail building, shoreline cleanup, and environmental education.
Looking ahead
The luncheon also served as a fundraiser to support WATeR's ongoing programs. With 25 years behind it and pressing challenges ahead — including the spread of hydrilla in Tellico Reservoir and continued residential runoff concerns — the community's support has never been more important.
To get involved, visit tellicowater.org/volunteer or email info@tellicowater.org.
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