>> OHHHHH!
>> I'M JUST GLAD YOU ALL WEAR
PANTS IN YOUR WADERS.
>> WHEW, HOW MANY MORE LAYERS
ARE WE GOING TO ADD ON HERE?
I'M ERICK BAKER.
YOU MAY KNOW ME FROM
"TENNESSEE UNCHARTED,"
BUT NOW I'M EXPANDING
MY HORIZONS TO EXPLORE
THE ENTIRE TENNESSEE VALLEY.
AND I'M BRINGING MY FRIEND
ARIEL NICOLE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
♪ THERE'S A PLACE ♪
♪ YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, ♪
♪ IT'S RIGHT WHERE... ♪
>> WHILE SOMETIMES
WE'LL JOURNEY TOGETHER,
OTHER TIMES NOT,
WE HOPE TO TAKE YOU TO PLACES
YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED
OR WHERE YOU'VE ALWAYS
DREAMED OF GOING.
 ♪ UNCHARTED ♪♪
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> WE ALL HAVE GOALS, MISSIONS,
BUCKET LISTS, RESOLUTIONS.
SOMETIMES IT'S AS SIMPLE
AS CROSSING OFF AN ITEM
ON YOUR LENGTHY TO-DO LIST.
SOMETIMES IT'S AS GRAND
AS PUTTING A MAN ON THE MOON.
I THINK A LOT OF ABOUT WHAT
MY MISSION HERE ON EARTH
SHOULD BE AND I REALIZED
THAT WHETHER OR NOT I'M ABLE
TO FULFILL EVERY GOAL
ISN'T THE POINT.
THE POINT IS TO TRY,
TO HELP OTHERS ACHIEVE
THEIR DREAMS,
TO TAKE PART IN SOMETHING
FOR THE GREATER GOOD.
AND THAT I TRULY BELIEVE IS
A MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
WHILE I DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE
TO GO TO SPACE CAMP AS A KID,
U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER
IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA
OFFERS UP AN ADULT VERSION
OF THE POPULAR CAMP
THAT INSPIRED SO MANY CHILDREN
TO DREAM BIG
AND TO LOVE SCIENCE.
SURE IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE
FOR ME TO BECOME AN ASTRONAUT,
BUT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT MIGHT BE
LIKE TO BE IN OUTER SPACE.
MARIAH FORDHAM IS MY ADULT
SPACE CAMP COUNSELOR TODAY
AND HER PASSION FOR SPACE
AND SCIENCE IS CONTAGIOUS,
TO SAY THE LEAST.
>> WELCOME TO THE U.S. SPACE
AND ROCKET CENTER.
WE'RE GOING TO COME IN HERE
AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN HOW
TO TRAIN TO BE AN ASTRONAUT.
>> YES.
>> THIS IS THE MULTI-AXIS
TRAINER.
THIS WAS USED TO TRAIN
THE ASTRONAUTS,
FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WOULD
SORT A WRONG SITUATION.
HOW THEY WOULD
CORRECT THE VEHICLE,
UPSIDE DOWN, SIDEWAYS.
>> WOW.
>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY AGGRESSIVE.
>> WHOA.
>> HERE WE GO.
(LAUGHING)
>> YES, SPACE CAMP, BABY!
LET'S DO THIS! (LAUGHING)
>> NICE JOB, ERICK.
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
>> I FEEL LIKE THE ROOM
IS SPINNING.
>> (LAUGHS) JUMP DOWN.
YEAH!
>> ALL RIGHT!
YES, YES!
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE COMPELLED
TO WANT TO FLIP SWITCHES...
>> DO IT!
>> AND PUSH BUTTONS.
>> DO IT.
>> OKAY, LET'S GO.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO,
ALL RIGHT,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO,
JUST GONNA HAVE TO DO THIS.
OH WOW,
THEY LIGHT UP TOO!
OH MAN,
THIS IS SO MUCH FUN.
I WAS ABLE TO GET MY SPACE LEGS
BACK WITH AN EXAMPLE OF
A TYPICAL EXAMPLE IN THE SPACE.
>> SO THE THING ABOUT ADULT
SPACE CAMP IS,
IT'S BASICALLY ADULTS THAT
DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COME TO SPACE CAMP
WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER.
WE PROVIDE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BE ASTRONAUTS AS ADULTS.
WE'VE GOT SO MANY RELATIONSHIPS
AND MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES
THAT HAVE COME OUT
OF ADULT SPACE CAMP.
>> MARRIAGES?
>> MARRIAGES.
>> WOW!
>> YEAH. SCIENCE.
(LAUGHING)
>> SO THIS IS ONE OF
THE EXPERIMENTS THAT WE DO
WITH OUR STUDENTS.
AND IT'S A POLYMER.
WHICH IT CAN BE A NUMBER
OF THINGS.
BUT TODAY IT WAS BORAX
AND POLYVINYL ALCOHOL.
COMBINED TOGETHER,
STIRRED IT AROUND
AND IT MADE A NEW SUBSTANCE
THAT INTERACTS WITH THE WORLD
COMPLETELY DIFFERENCE THAN
EITHER OF THOSE TWO SUBSTANCES
ON THEIR OWN.
WITH THIS, THIS IS VERY BOUNCY
HERE ON EARTH.
BUT IMAGINE IF WE WERE IN
A MICRO GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT
IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BOUNCE
AND ROLL ON THE FLOOR,
IT WOULD BOUNCE
AND THEN GO BACK
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY,
TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS THAT
OPEN THE DOORS FOR SOMEONE
TO THINK, OH, I CAN DO SCIENCE.
WHAT DOES SCIENCE MEAN?
HOW DO I DO SCIENCE AT HOME?
>> I GOT THE SCIENCE BEARD
GOING ON, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I'M SMARTER ALREADY,
A CHILDHOOD DREAM IS COMING TRUE
FOR ME TODAY.
AND BOY,
WHAT A GREAT GETAWAY WHERE
AN ADULT CAN JUST BE A KID.
>> YEAH.
AND IT'S FANTASTIC.
WE LOVE HAVING FUN HERE.
>> AND MAKE BOUNCY SLIMEBALLS,
RIGHT?
>> DEFINITELY.
>> ALL RIGHT,
WELL ON TO THE NEXT EXPERIENCE.
>> FANTASTIC.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> HOW'S THAT? HUH?
LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S RIDE, LET'S GO TO SPACE!
>> THIS IS A CHANCE FOR YOU
TO BE AN APOLLO ASTRONAUT.
YOU WILL TRAVERSE BOUNDING
FROM HERE TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE MOON.
>> SO CAN I JUST HAVE A SEAT?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> GO AHEAD AND TRY
AND PROPEL YOURSELF FORWARD.
>> OKAY.
>> NICE.
>> I'M ON THE MOON!
LOOK AT ME, DAD,
I'M ON THE MOON!
IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN YOU GET
TO WALK ON THE MOON.
(LAUGHING) 
>> I'VE GOT THIS,
I'VE GOT THIS. (GRUNTING)
(LAUGHING)
>> THIS IS AWESOME.
I LOVE IT HERE.
I'M HAVING SO MUCH FUN.
>> GOOD, I'M GLAD.
>> AH!
>> FANTASTIC, NICE JOB, MAN.
YOU DID GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHEN ASTRONAUTS ARE UP
IN SPACE THEY ARE IN A VEHICLE.
SOMETIMES THAT VEHICLE BREAKS.
IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR JOB
TO FIX THAT VEHICLE.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> YEP, THERE YOU GO.
>> IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
BEING ANOINTED.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
STEP INTO THE AS YOU WOULD
SNOW PANTS.
NICE.
SO YOUR MISSION TODAY IS
TO REPAIR COOLANT ON
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
ARMS OUT LIKE A ZOMBIE,
SOUND IS ENCOURAGED.
>> OOOHHH.
>> GREAT, GREAT,
THAT'S NICE. (LAUGHING)
>> (MONOTONE) SPACE.
SPEAKING OF MOONWALKING.
(HUMMING)
>> RIGHT THROUGH THERE?
>> YEP, THAT'S IT.
>> HOW MANY MORE LAYERS
ARE WE GOING TO ADD ON HERE?
>> THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE ONES
THAT THE APOLLO ASTRONAUTS
WOULD'VE HAD TO WEAR.
>> HOW DO YOU USE
THE BATHROOM IN SPACE?
>> VERY CAREFULLY.
>> (LAUGHS) WE COULD DO OUR OWN
LITTLE HOME RENOVATION SHOW
IN OUTER SPACE.
>> YES, WE SHOULD.
>> NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
OH BOY, ALL RIGHT. YES.
HELLO FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
WE'VE GOT A COOLANT ISSUE,
NO BIG DEAL.
MARIAH AND I ARE GOING
TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
>> SO THE FIRST THING
THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IS
SOME TOOLS.
GO AHEAD AND PULL IT OUT.
>> SO WHAT ALL DO I HAVE HERE?
IS THIS LIKE
A SPACE SCREWDRIVER?
>> BASICALLY.
>> SO THIS IS WHAT SCREWDRIVERS
LOOK LIKE IN SPACE.
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE.
>> OVER HERE WE NEED
TO PLUG THEM INTO THAT JUMP BOX.
GO AHEAD AND PUSH IT.
PERFECT.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THOSE
ARE CONNECTED?
>> OH YES.
AMMONIA TANK FEED IS OPEN.
YES, SPACE! (CLUNKING)
OH, SORRY SPACE STATION.
OH, I'M ABOUT TO LOSE MY BOOT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN SPACE
WITH NO SHOES ON! (LAUGHING)
THIS IS NOT GOING WELL.
>> NAILED IT.
>> HEY, WELCOME.
>> AHH!
>> HELLO, ERICK.
>> I COME IN PEACE.
MAYBE I'LL GET NOTICED HERE.
AND YOU'RE LIKE, ALL RIGHT,
YOU'RE GOING STRAIGHT
TO THE SUN, MY FRIEND.
AFTER FUN AND FULL DAY, 
PAT AMMONS WANTED TO BLOW
MY MIND EVEN MORE.
>> PART OF OUR THREE-PRONG
MISSION IS TO EDUCATE NOT JUST
ABOUT AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE,
BUT ALSO ENERGY BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY WE HAVE GOALS
TO CREATE AN ENERGY STORY ABOUT
HOW ENERGY IS CREATED THROUGH
THE USE OF DAMS AND WATER.
AND SO THIS IS A TURBINE ROTOR
FROM THE CULVERT FOSSIL PLANT.
THE MOTOR WEIGHS 43, 70...
>> DANG!
>> YEAH, YEAH.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE TRUCK
THAT BROUGHT THAT THING IN.
>> YEAH.
>> WE'RE STANDING
IN THE DAVIDSON CENTER
FOR SPACE EXPLORATION.
>> OKAY.
>> AT THE U.S. SPACE
AND ROCKET CENTER.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE TOURIST
ATTRACTION IN THE STATE
OF ALABAMA.
AND WE ALSO ARE THE HOME
OF SPACE CAMP.
>> YEAH.
>> SO YEAH, WHICH...
>> ADULT SPACE CAMP TOO, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WAS A THING.
MY MIND IS, PSHWEE.
>> AND THE ROCKET WE'RE
LOOKING AT BEHIND RIGHT HERE
IS THE SATURN FIVE ROCKET.
THIS IS THE ROCKET THAT TOOK US
TO THE MOON.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THE VEHICLE THAT WAS
CREATED BEFORE COMPUTERS,
THIS WAS DONE ON PAPER
AND PENCIL.
IT WAS DONE WITH PROTRACTORS
AND COMPASSES AND MINDS
THAT WERE ABLE TO ENVISION
HOW WE COULD CREATE ENGINES
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO GET US OFF
THE GROUND AND INTO DEEP SPACE.
>> THIS IS PRESERVING SUCH
A HUGE LANDMARK IN HISTORY,
A LANDMARK FOR MANKIND.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH TVA.
>> WELL WE ARE EXCITED BECAUSE
IN DECEMBER OF 2016 WE BECAME
AN OFFICIAL TVA VISITORS CENTER.
ULTIMATELY WE WANT
TO HAVE DISPLAYS,
EXHIBITS HERE THAT WILL HELP
TELL THE TVA STORY.
THE PROCESS OF TAKING NATIONAL
RESOURCES AND TURNING THEM
INTO POWER TO LIGHT
OUR BUILDINGS,
SAIL OUR SHIPS,
EVEN GO TO SPACE.
YOU KNOW IF THE TENNESSEE RIVER
CREATED EASY ACCESS
FOR SUPPLIES,
THAT TENNESSEE RIVER WOULD NOT
BE AS NAVIGABLE AS IT IS TODAY
IF IT WEREN'T FOR TVA.
>> TVA.
YOU KNOW I KID WHO WANTED
TO GO TO SPACE CAMP, ME,
AND WASN'T ABLE TO,
NOW HAS BEEN ABLE TO
AS AN ADULT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND YOU'VE MADE A CHILDHOOD
DREAM COME TRUE TODAY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> RETIRED TVA EMPLOYEE
JOHN BLACKWELL IS ON A MISSION
TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY
OF WILSON DAM
AND THE TENNESSEE RIVER
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE DAM WAS THE LARGEST
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EVER
WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1925.
AND WHILE IT HELPED TO EASE
TURBULENT NAVIGATION
IN THE MUSCLE SHOALS AREA
OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER,
IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT TO PROVIDE
ENERGY FOR WORLD WAR I WEAPONS
MANUFACTURING.
>> IT'S THE LARGEST
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC DAM
TVA HAS GONE ITS SYSTEM.
>> HYDRO GENERATING
THE ELECTRICITY, NAVIGATIONS,
THE LOCK SYSTEM?
>> AND FLOOD CONTROL.
>> AND FLOOD CONTROL
WITH THE SPILLWAYS?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> SOMEBODY SAID,
IS IT ENOUGH TO POWER
ALL OF THE HOUSES IN THIS AREA?
OF COURSE.
BUT IT GOES INTO THE TVA POWER
GRID SYSTEM OUT OF CHATTANOOGA
WHERE IT'S CONTROLLED.
>> OKAY.
>> AND THEY LIKE TO HAVE
HYDROELECTRIC BECAUSE
IT'S NO BIG FOOTPRINT FROM IT,
YOU KNOW CARBON FOOTPRINT
OR ANYTHING, AND THEY CAN
START THEM UP QUICK AND THEY CAN
TAKE THEM DOWN QUICK.
IT'S NOT LIKE A COAL FIRE PLANT
OR A NUCLEAR PLANT,
WHICH TAKES HOURS OR MAYBE DAYS
TO GET UP AND DOWN.
ECONOMICALLY IT'S A VERY
GOOD SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POWER.
>> AND ENVIRONMENT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND WHILE THIS NEOCLASSICAL
STYLE WONDER IS A SIGHT TO SEE
FROM THE OVERLOOK,
IT TAKES ON AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT SENSE OF WONDER
WHEN JOHN GIVES YOU
AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR BY BOAT.
SO YOU'VE GROWN UP ON THIS LAKE?
>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN HERE 76 YEARS.
>> NEVER THOUGHT OF LEAVING?
>> NO, I MOVED AWAY FOR THE ARMY
TO SOUTHEAST ASIA
AND THAT WASN'T AS PLEASANT.
OKAY. (LAUGHING)
>> WHAT'S THE BEST PART
OF THIS AREA?
>> WE'RE ON IT.
>> YEAH.
>> WE'RE ON IT RIGHT NOW,
THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
YEAH.
>> WHERE YOU FLY FISH NORMALLY
SHALLOW WATER, RIGHT?
>> MMHMM.
>> THIS IS THE BEST FLYFISHING
SPOT IN THE WORLD,
100 FEET DEEP RIGHT HERE.
>> SAY WHAT NOW?
>> THIS IS THE BEST FLYFISHING
SPOT ON THE WHOLE RIVER
RIGHT HERE.
>> AND IT'S 100 FEET DEEP?
>> YEAH.
NOW MY BROTHER DIDN'T BELIEVE ME
AND I BROUGHT HIM OUT HERE
ONE DAY AND ALL THE BREAM
AND EVERYTHING ARE RIGHT HERE.
THEY COME TO FEED.
AND YOU WOULD NEVER THINK,
100 FEET OF WATER,
NO WAY YOU COULD FIND THE FISH.
BUT OF COURSE BREAM FISHING
IS GOOD HERE, CATFISHING.
AND I DON'T HAVE MY
DEPTH FINDER ON,
BUT IT'S ABOUT 80, 90 FEET.
THE MESSAGE TO GIVE
TO EVERYBODY IS, DON'T LITTER.
IF YOU'VE GOT THINGS
IN YOUR BOAT,
TIE THEM DOWN,
BECAUSE LOOK HERE,
HERE'S WHERE IT COMES.
AND IT COULD END UP GOING DOWN
TENNESSEE TO THE OHIO.
ALL RIGHT,
I'M GOING TO GET OVER HERE
WHERE SEE THE PLANKS
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
OKAY, YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE THEM
A LITTLE BIT NOW.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> YEAH, YOU SEE THE WOOD GRAIN
AND EVERYTHING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH,
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING.
>> YOU SAID THEY CUT,
INDIVIDUALLY CUT
ALL THOSE PLANKS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT,
ALL THOSE PLANKS.
PROBABLY TOOK ALL THE WOOD
WITHIN 100 MILES
OF THIS PLACE,
I WOULD THINK.
>> MAN.
WELL THEY DID SOMETHING RIGHT
BECAUSE IT'S ALL STILL...
>> OH YEAH,
IT'S STILL HERE.
THIS IS WHERE I COME TO TROLL
AND TO FISH FOR STRIPE AND BASS.
YOU KNOW ANY TIME THESE
GENERATORS ARE ON
YOU CAN CATCH THEM.
>> OH, GOTCHA.
OKAY.
>> AND IF I WANT TO FIND OUT
AT HOME,
I GO ON THE TVA WEBSITE
TO SEE WHEN THIS IS GOING TO BE
OPERATING.
>> AND YOU SAID WHEN
THEY'RE GENERATING THAT'S
THE BEST TIME TO COME FISH?
>> THE DAM BELOW THE DAM
OR UP ON THE LAKE,
EITHER ONE.
>> OKAY.
>> AND TVA'S DESIGN IS
THE BEST MANAGED RIVER SYSTEM
IN THE WORLD,
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REPORTED
ONE TIME.
>> HUH.
>> THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
IT IS.
EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO IT,
GOES OUT OF IT AND FALLS DOWN,
THEY KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> SO IN TERMS OF THE,
JUST THE WILDLIFE THAT WE HAVE
JUST IN THIS AREA?
>> WELL THE MAIN BIRD I THINK
THE MOST IMPORTANT IS
THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.
AND TVA HELPED TO INTRODUCE
BOTH THE OSPREY
AND THE BALD EAGLE.
>> OKAY.
>> ALSO YOU HAVE THE CANADIAN
GEESE THAT ARE HERE,
THE CORMORANTS THAT ARE HERE,
JACK BLUE HERONS
AND THE WHITE EGRETS
ARE UP HERE AS WELL.
>> A WILDLIFE PARADISE.
THAT IS PRETTY SPECTACULAR,
JOHN.
>> YEAH.
I THOUGHT YOU WOULD ENJOY THAT.
LOOK AT ALL THE CORMORANTS
DOWN THERE, SEE THEM?
>> WOW.
>> ISN'T THAT MAGNIFICENT?
>> THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.
JOHN GAVE ME LOTS OF GOOD INFO
TO PASS ALONG ABOUT WILSON DAM.
SO MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, JOHN.
WELL DONE.
>> NICE DAY FOR STROLL
WITH WADERS ON, GUYS.
>> YES, YES, ALWAYS.
>> I'M GETTING MY STEPS IN.
(LAUGHTER)
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> TELL ME WHAT
WE'RE DOING TODAY.
>> WELL, WE ARE DOING INDEX
OF BIOTIC INTEGRITY SAMPLES.
THEY'RE BASICALLY ALL...
>> WHICH MEANS EXACTLY
WHAT LIKE?
>> WELL, IT IS...
>> AN INDEX,
LIKE YOU'RE TAKING A SAMPLE?
>> YEAH, MULTIPLE SAMPLES.
AND IT WILL GIVE US A SNAPSHOT
IN TIME ABOUT HOW THE STREAM
IS DOING ECOLOGICALLY.
>> SO WHAT ARE YOU HOPING
TO FIND TODAY?
IS THIS, IS WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO SEE TODAY
A HEALTHY BODY OF WATER?
I MEAN, IS THAT WHAT
WE'RE HOPING TO SEE?
>> YEAH, VERY MUCH SO.
THIS IS,
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
DIVERSE RIVERS OF ITS SIZE
IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.
AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO
THE MOST DIVERSE RIVER
ITS SIZE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN
UNITED STATES.
SO THIS IS THE EPICENTER
OF BIODIVERSITY FOR FISH,
FRESHWATER MUSSELS, CRAYFISH.
>> SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT
THIS WATER IN THIS ENVIRONMENT
THAT MAKES IT SO PERFECT
THAT IT CAN BE THAT BIO DIVERSE?
>> WELL IT'S A LOT OF THINGS.
YOU HAVE A VERY INTACT
FORESTED WATERSHED.
YOU HAVE GOOD CLEAN WATER.
YOU DON'T HAVE IMPACTS
TO THE HABITAT,
TO JUST THE WATER QUALITY
IN GENERAL.
IT'S JUST THE PERFECT
COMBINATION FOR LOTS AND LOTS
OF SPECIES AND ALL THAT.
>> AWESOME, WELL I FEEL
FORTUNATE TO BE STANDING HERE,
LITERALLY STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
>> YEAH, ME TOO.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACTS
IN SOME OF THE THINGS, I GUESS,
THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY
THREATENED THIS,
THE DIVERSITY OF THIS RIVER.
>> ANYTHING THAT IMPEDES SPECIES
FROM MOVING HOW THEY WOULD
NORMALLY MOVE
ON A DAY-TO-DAY, A YEARLY BASIS
FOR SPAWNING, TO EAT,
WHATEVER THEY DO
THROUGHOUT THAT TIME.
SECOND, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS
THAT WE FOCUS ON
AT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
IS SEDIMENT.
YOUR OTHER POLLUTANTS GET
INTO THE STREAM AND THEY'LL BIND
TO THE DIRT PARTICLES.
>> OKAY.
>> SO THE DIRT IS NOT
NECESSARILY,
IT IS A POLLUTANT,
BUT IT IS ALSO A VECTOR
FOR THE OTHER POLLUTANTS
TO ENTER THE STREAM SYSTEM.
>> YES, A VEHICLE.
>> YES, DEFINITELY.
>> LIKE, HEY, THERE'S MY RIDE
INTO THE RIVER.
JASON IS WELL AWARE THAT
NO ONE GROUP CAN TAKE ON
THIS PROJECT ALONE.
AND ONE OF THE PARTNERS
IN THIS ENDEAVOR TO PROTECT
NORTHERN ALABAMA'S
PINK ROCK RIVER
AND THE ENTIRE WATERSHED IS
THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY.
>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH TVA
THROUGHOUT AUGUST,
THE LAST DECADE, FOR SURE
DOING PROJECTS ALL THE WAY UP
THROUGH THIS WATERSHED,
NOT JUST HERE AT THIS ONE SPOT.
>> YOU MIGHT THINK OF TVA
AS A MAJOR PROVIDER
OF ELECTRIC POWER,
BUT A LARGE PART OF
THEIR MISSION IS MANAGING
AND PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES
ACROSS THE VALLEY
AND ULTIMATELY PROMOTING
ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE REGION.
>> THE U.S. FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
HAS BEEN INCREMENTAL.
WE'VE ALSO GOT FUNDING
FROM EPA IN THE PAST,
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY.
AND OF COURSE THE LANDOWNER IS
THE BIGGEST PART OF ALL THIS.
92% OF ALABAMA IS
PRIVATELY OWNED.
IF WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO GET ON PRIVATE PROPERTY,
THEN WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE
ACCESS OR ABILITY TO DO
ANY OF THIS WORK THAT WE DO.
>> JASON, THANKS, MAN.
THANK YOU FOR MY FASHION.
>> IT'S A PLEASURE.
>> THAT YOU'VE OUTFITTED ME
WITH TOO.
>> YOU LOOK GOOD.
>> I'M JUST I'M READY TODAY,
I'M READY.
SO WE'RE WEARING WADERS
BECAUSE THIS SURVEY INVOLVES
ELECTRO-FISHING.
AND NO, NO FISH ARE HARMED
IN THIS PROCESS.
BASICALLY AN ELECTRIC CURRENT
IS DELIVERED THAT BRIEFLY STUNS
THE FISH SO THEY FLOAT ALONG
THE STREAM INTO THE NET.
>> SET IT, SO SET THAT.
>> OKAY.
>> BRING IT UP TO YOU, GET IT
A LITTLE IN FRONT OF YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> PUT IT AT AN ANGLE.
>> HUH.
>> GOT A GOOD - YOU'RE FIRM?
>> YEAH, I THINK SO.
>> OKAY. HOLD ON.
>> WHOA.
>> YEAH, HANG ON TIGHT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> NOT FEELING ANY TINGLES.
>> THAT'S GOOD.
>> GOOD.
>> YOU'LL BE DANCING IF YOU DO.
>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
SO AS WE'RE DOING THIS,
I MEAN THE EXACT,
THIS EXACT PROCESS,
WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING
WHAT ALL WE FIND
AND IT'S AN INDICATION, RIGHT?
>> WHEN WE'RE COLLECTING
THESE FISH,
WE'RE LOOKING AT
THE DIVERSITY OF FISH,
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY FISH
WE CATCH.
AND THEY LET US KNOW
WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S PROBLEMS
IN THE WATER.
AND THEY ARE THE CANARY
OF THE STREAM.
>> THE CANARY?
>> THE CANARY IN THE MINE
FOR THE STREAM.
>> OKAY.
>> BUT THEY DON'T TELL US
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
SO WE HAVE TO GO FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
WE HAVE TO BECOME DETECTIVES.
>> SO IN A SENSE THIS IS
STEP ONE OF MORE STEPS
TO COME, RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
(WATER RUSHING)
>> PART OF DEBRIS AND...
>> YOU GUYS ARE REALLY
WORKING OUT HERE.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK
WAS HAPPENING? (LAUGHS)
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I HEARD RIVER AND WATER
AND FISHING.
>> THAT'S ALL PEOPLE THINK.
>> I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT...
>> THAT WE'RE ON SOME JOYRIDE
OUT HERE.
>> I WAS LOOKING FOR
THE COOLER AND THE KOOZIE.
I DON'T KNOW. (LAUGHING)
>> SO TODAY WE'VE SEEN FOUR
DIFFERENT SPECIES OF CRAYFISH
JUST IN OUR SAMPLE
AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN
BEEN TARGETING CRAYFISH
SPECIFICALLY.
>> OKAY. OH DUDE.
>> OH BELIEVE ME,
I'M USED TO,
IT HAPPENS ALL DAY LONG.
>> LET GO.
OH, HE'S TRYING TO GET ME.
YOU'RE A STAR, BABE,
YOU'RE A STAR!
>> I MEAN, IT'S ALL CONNECTED
DOWN FROM THE, I MEAN,
FROM THE WATER BUGS TO
THE PLANTS IN THE STREAM,
SOME OF THE WATER BUGS EAT
THE PLANTS,
SOME OF THE WATER BUGS EAT
OTHER STUFF.
SOME OF THESE FISH EAT
THE WATER BUGS,
SOME OTHER FISH PROBABLY EATS
THESE GUYS.
>> CADDISFLY.
AND THOSE ARE THE KINDS
OF INSECTS I'M TALKING ABOUT
THAT THESE GARTERS ARE EATING.
>> YEAH.
>> AND WHEN YOU GET A LOT OF
SEDIMENT AND OTHER IMPACT
IN STREAMS,
IT STARTS SUFFOCATING AREAS
WHERE THESE ANIMALS LIVE.
AND SO YOU START LOSING
THESE GUYS.
AND THEN YOU START,
YOUR FISH DIVERSITY IS
GOING DOWN
AND IT JUST SORT OF TUMBLES
LIKE THAT.
>> SO ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE
SEEING TODAY ISN'T
JUST GOING ON HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IN OVER
500 OTHER SITES ALL THROUGHOUT
THE VALLEY.
SO A LOT OF WORK IS BEING DONE
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WATER
IS CLEAN AND HEALTHY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> SO TODAY WE ARE IN
MUSCLE SHOALS, ALABAMA
AT FAME RECORDING STUDIOS.
AND NOT ONLY DO I GET TO GO IN
AND LOOK AROUND
BUT I ALSO GET TO PLAY A SONG.
I'M GETTING TO WALK IN
THE FOOTSTEPS OF GIANTS TODAY.
SO LET'S GO IN AND CHECK IT OUT.
TO THINK THAT I'M STANDING
IN THE SAME ROOM WHERE
ARETHA FRANKLIN,
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS,
JASON ISABEL AND COUNTLESS
OTHERS CAME TO ACHIEVE
A CERTAIN SOUND,
IS HUMBLING TO SAY THE LEAST.
BUT TODAY I'M ON
A PERSONAL MISSION,
TO FIND OUT WHAT FAME STUDIOS
AND THAT MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND
IS ALL ABOUT.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS
THE MAIN ROOM, STUDIO A.
IT ORIGINALLY LOOKED LIKE THIS.
LAST TIME THEY REDID IT
WAS THE LATE '70S.
IF YOU NOTICE
THE 25 FOOT CEILINGS,
THEY USED TWO BY FOURS
RUNNING UP HERE.
THE BOOTS WEREN'T BACK HERE,
IT WAS A MORE OPEN FEEL.
>> YEP, I AM LIVING THE DREAM.
AND I'M GOING TO RECORD
THE THEME SONG
FOR THIS SHOW HERE,
BUT I HAVE TO
PLAY TOURIST FIRST.
AND JOHN GIFFORD,
ENGINEER EXTRAORDINAIRE,
IS JUST THE MAN
TO SHOW ME AROUND.
>> EVERYTHING IN THIS ROOM,
RICK'S PUT HIS THUMBPRINT ON
350 MILLION ALBUMS
AND THEY'RE PRODUCED
AND PUBLISHED
IN OUR ENGINEERING.
IT'S GOT 48 GOLD
AND PLATINUM RECORDS,
OVER 200 CHARTED TOP 50 SONGS.
PRETTY AMAZING, RIGHT?
>> WHAT'S ONE OF,
JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW,
WHAT'S JUST A COUPLE
OF THE MAIN TUNES
THEY'D BE LIKE, OH WOW,
THAT WAS RECORDED THERE?
>> ARETHA FRANKLIN CUT
HER FIRST TWO HITS HERE.
"I NEVER LOVED A MAN,"
"DO RIGHT WOMAN."
>> YEAH.
>> TO ME,
I'VE BEEN HERE 7-1/2 YEARS
BUT LIKE, GREG ALLMAN,
HE RECORDED HIS LAST ALBUM HERE.
>> LAST RECORD, YEAH.
>> I GOT TO WORK ON THAT ALBUM
LAST YEAR.
>> AND NOW ERICK BAKER. (LAUGHS)
>> AND NOW ERICK BAKER!
COOL, COME ON, LET'S GO
OVER TO STUDIO B
AND LET ME SHOW YOU AROUND.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
AS FAR AS MUSCLE SHOALS
AS A COMMUNITY,
WHAT DOES THIS STUDIO MEAN
TO MUSCLE SHOALS
JUST AS A COMMUNITY?
>> WELL I MEAN, THIS WAS
THE FIRST SPOT, YOU KNOW?
ALMOST, I'D SAY,
A GOOD 90% OF THE PEOPLE
THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE SHOALS
SOMEHOW GOT THEIR START HERE.
I MEAN, IT WAS FROM SONGWRITERS
TO ENGINEERS TO ARTISTS
TO PRODUCERS.
PEOPLE, LIKE IT OR NOT,
EVERYTHING STARTED AT FAME.
>> WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SOUND
AND THE VIBE AND WHAT
THE FAME STUDIO'S SOUND, WHAT,
I MEAN WHY IS IT SO SPECIAL?
>> MAN, THE EASIEST WAY
FOR ME TO RELATE IT,
IT'S LIKE GUMBO.
IT'S NOT THE MEAT,
IT'S NOT THE SPICES,
IT'S EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
ALL THAT ADDED TOGETHER IS
WHAT'S GAVE YOU THAT SOUND.
IT WAS LITERALLY THE DRAW
OF EVERYTHING.
NOW THE AREA OUTSIDE
OF JUST THE MUSIC,
THE DRAW, MAN,
I THINK IT WAS JUST A GOOD PLACE
IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE TENNESSEE RIVER THAT PEOPLE
COULD CROSS OVER BACK BEFORE
THE DAM SYSTEMS CAME UP.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD
THE DAM SYSTEMS.
AND IT HAD HENRY FORD LOOKING
TO BUY WILSON DAM OVER HERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IS
LIKE EVEN OUTSIDE OF MUSIC
THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN
THIS CRAZY DRAW TO THIS AREA
THAT I JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> IS THERE A "GOOD" KNOB HERE
WHERE YOU COULD LIKE MAKE ME
SOUND GOOD?
>> WELL, YOU GOT
THE "SUCKS" BUTTON ON
OVER THERE IF YOU NOTICE.
(LAUGHTER) 
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
WE KNOW THE HISTORY,
WE KNOW WHO'S BEEN HERE.
WHAT'S THE FUTURE
OF FAME STUDIOS?
>> MAN, WE'RE STILL JUST
KICKING IT, YOU KNOW?
>> YEAH.
>> AS FAR AS BOOKING
STUDIO TIME, I MEAN.
WE'RE BOOKED OUT ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF YOUNG GUYS
THAT WRITE MUSIC UNTIL
2, 4 A.M. EVERY NIGHT
AND EVERYTHING.
SO IT'S JUST CONSTANTLY TRYING
TO PRODUCE NEW MUSIC
AND STUFF.
>> CONSTANTLY, I MEAN,
MUSIC'S RINGING THROUGH
THESE WALLS?
>> OH YEAH, OH YEAH.
>> EVERY DAY.
>> EVERY DAY, MAN.
THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY COOL
ABOUT IT.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
>> PLEASE DON'T
MAKE ME SUCK, LORD.
(GUITAR PLAYING)
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
♪ SO MANY ROADS TO TRAVEL, ♪
♪ I WANT TO RUN DOWN ♪
♪ EVERY MILE ♪
♪ STRIKE A TRAIL TO SOMEWHERE, ♪
♪ GO OUT AND GET WILD... ♪
>> AFTER SOME REFLECTION,
ALL OF THESE EXPERIENCES
I'VE HAD IN NORTHERN ALABAMA
HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, FAITH.
WHETHER YOU'RE TAKING
A GIANT STEP FOR YOURSELF
OR FOR MANKIND,
YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE THERE'S
SOMETHING OUT THERE
GREATER THAN THE STATUS QUO.
WITH ALL THE WORRIES ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECT
ON ECOLOGY, GEOLOGY
AND BIODIVERSITY,
I FEEL GOOD KNOWING THAT
THERE ARE CARING INDIVIDUALS
AND GROUPS THAT GIVE SELFLESSLY
TO THEIR CAUSE OR MISSION,
THAT PASS ON THE BASIC
KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL MAKE
THE NEXT GENERATION CARE.
♪ UNCHARTED ♪
♪ MY TENNESSEE VALLEY ♪
♪ IS ALWAYS TAKING ME BACK ♪
♪ WHERE I BELONG... ♪
>> THESE PEOPLE
WITH SUCH A PASSION
FOR WHATEVER IT MAY BE
GIVE ME THE FAITH
TO MAYBE NOT GO WHERE
NO MAN HAS EVER GONE BEFORE,
BUT TO AT THE VERY LEAST
FOLLOW A DREAM.
♪ ...AND SING ALONG ♪
♪ WHOA-OH-OH-OH ♪♪
>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW,
I MEAN, I REALLY,
IT'S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS
ACTUALLY JUST BECAUSE I MEAN
JUST LIKE WHAT MY FINGERS
ARE TOUCHING RIGHT NOW,
SO MUCH HISTORY HAS LITERALLY
BEEN PLAYED ON THESE KEYS.
IT'S ALL GONE BY SO FAST,
NOW I'M WANTING,
WANTING TO LIKE SIT
FOR A LITTLE BIT.
IT JUST WENT BY A LITTLE
TOO FAST, ACTUALLY.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)
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