The rivers of the Ocoee region were used by an unbelievable 300,000 visitors last year, helping to establish what I call "The crown jewel of outdoor sports and recreation in the Eastern United States."

People from all over the country -- really all over the world -- are coming to the area in record numbers to enjoy the rivers by fishing, rafting, kayaking and canoeing and to experience the beauty of the mountains that overlook them by hiking, horseback riding and now mountain biking.

This boom presents a great economic opportunity for the whole region and a challenge to those of us who love it to make sure that it can be enjoyed without being destroyed. Two weeks ago, I traveled to Polk County to meet with many of the interested parties to make sure we do what's right for this land that was handed down to us by the Cherokee Indians who established their policies based on what was best for the next seven generations to come.

It was appropriate that the meeting took place during Presidents' week. Officially it's the time when we honor Presidents Washington and Lincoln. But as I worked with the folks from Polk County, I thought a lot about another great President: Theodore Roosevelt.

He was known for his love of the outdoors and fierce determination to protect and preserve as much as possible of that beautiful heritage for all generations to enjoy. We in East Tennessee must never forget Theodore Roosevelt's legacy because our region is rich in awesome mountains and beautiful rivers.

On Feb. 17, I met once again with the outfitters, river users and officials from the State of Tennessee, the U.S. Forest Service, the TVA and Polk County government to talk about how best to care for but also enjoy the natural resources of the Ocoee, the Hiwassee and the Conasauga Rivers.

The various governmental and citizens groups have formed a partnership that is helping this area become a major center of outdoor recreation. One of our biggest challenges is to make sure that the area is easy to reach for those who want to enjoy it while preserving its breath-taking natural beauty and its pristine watersheds.

A key part of that effort is our work together to obtain funding for improvements to "Corridor K." That's the part of Highway 64 extending from Interstate 75 in Cleveland, eastward to the North Carolina state line. This road needs to be improved to accommodate a big increase in traffic that commerce and tourism are creating. A big part of the improvement is building a bypass around the scenic areas to divert trucks and local folks who simply travel this road to get from one side of the mountain to the other. The "river road," as it is called, runs along side the Ocoee River, so there's no real way to widen it. On one side is the river. On the other side are steep mountains. So the bypass must be built.

We in Congress started the process last year, when we secured in the TEA-21 Transportation Bill funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission that can be used for this project. But an environmental impact statement is needed, and the ARC funding is subject to a commitment from the State of Tennessee to help pay for this project. I am going to continue to work hard on this important effort. Creating a beautiful recreation area in this region can be a physical and spiritual boon for folks all over the nation -- and the world -- and it should continue to be a major economic boost for the good people of Polk County.

Part of my day was taken up with preserving the wilderness and rivers that are so important to our nation. But perhaps the most special and moving moments of my week at home came when I got to visit about 180 students who help make up our most important "natural resource": our children. These youngsters at Turtletown Elementary School made me feel very good about life.

Many of them have not shared fully in our nation's economic abundance. But whatever some of them may lack materially, they surely make it up in other, I believe, far more important ways. They were good-spirited, well-mannered and cheerful. And they were so happy. It's clear that even if not all of them have grown up with a lot of money, they were "wealthy" in the area of solid, fundamental values. It seems that their parents, teachers and their very special principal have taught them the difference between right and wrong.

That visit with the school children of Turtletown was the high point of my week. From now on, when I get discouraged by the apparent lack of morals and values in our society, I plan to reflect on the wonderful young people of Turtletown Elementary School. They are truly the "hope for our future."

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