Preserving Scenic Integrity Along the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi is more than a road — it’s a nationally treasured landscape that draws millions of visitors each year to experience its history, beauty, and connection to nature. When modern infrastructure projects intersect with such places, the challenge is clear: how do we meet today’s energy and development needs without diminishing irreplaceable cultural and scenic resources? 

That question arose in 2017, when the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) proposed a 43-mile transmission line to improve power reliability and serve growing communities in northern Mississippi. The new line required an aerial crossing over the Natchez Trace Parkway — a change with unavoidable scenic impacts. 

Rather than let the project stall, TVA, the National Park Service, and Entergy Mississippi turned to The Conservation Fund for help. Under a multi-party agreement, TVA committed $2 million to mitigate the visual impacts of its project. The Conservation Fund then managed these funds to support Entergy Mississippi in undergrounding three existing non-TVA power lines that previously crossed the Parkway. By replacing overhead lines with underground systems, we were able to reduce scenic intrusions at multiple Parkway crossings — far beyond the original project footprint. 

By 2022, the mitigation was complete and approved by the National Park Service, ensuring that one of America’s most iconic scenic byways retained its historic character while enabling essential energy infrastructure to move forward. 

This project is a powerful example of how The Conservation Fund bridges the gap between development and conservation. By aligning the needs of federal agencies, utilities, and communities, we made it possible to deliver reliable energy while safeguarding the landscapes people love.