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Tennessee to invest $15M in 18 lakes, add fisherman's brand

bill dance on a lake
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee plan to invest $15 million in improvements at 18 lakes will be branded after bass fishing superstar Bill Dance.

Gov. Bill Lee's office announced plans Thursday to create the Bill Dance Signature Lakes by partnering his agencies on wildlife resources, state parks and tourism.

Lee's office says the lakes touch 39 counties, including 22 that are at-risk or economically distressed. Improvement projects are slated to begin in 2022 and will approach completion by fall 2024.

The lakes include nine large reservoirs that will receive new or upgraded ramps through a partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Other improvements will include increased stocking, habitat and fisheries management, courtesy docks, parking, additional access points, fishing piers and signs.

The Bill Dance Signature Lakes projects are slated to begin at the following areas:

  • 1000 Acre Lake, in Carroll County
  • Brown’s Creek Lake, Natchez Trace in Henderson County
  • Chickamauga Lake, Harrison Bay State Park & Chester Frost Park in Hamilton, Rhea, Meigs, McMinn and Bradley counties
  • Dale Hollow Lake in Clay, Pickett, Fentress and Overton counties
  • Douglas Lake in Jefferson, Sevier and Cocke counties
  • Fall Creek Falls Lake, Fall Creek Falls State Park in Van Buren County
  • Herb Parsons Lake in Fayette County
  • Kentucky Lake, Paris Landing State Park in Henry, Stewart, Houston, Benton, Decatur, Perry and Humphreys counties
  • Lake Acorn, Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson County
  • Lake Woodhaven, Montgomery Bell State Park in Dickson County
  • Norris Lake, in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger and Union counties
  • Old Hickory Lake in Sumner and Davidson counties
  • Pickwick Lake, Pickwick Landing State Park in Hardin County
  • Pin Oak Lake, Natchez Trace State Park in Henderson County
  • Reelfoot Lake, Reelfoot Lake State Park in Lake and Obion counties
  • Tim’s Ford Lake, Tim’s Ford State Park in Franklin and Moore counties
  • Travis McNatt Lake, Big Hill Pond State Park in McNairy county
  • Watauga Lake in Johnson and Carter counties