The Tapoco Division of Alcoa Power Generating Inc. is proud to have been a part of the Smoky Mountain landscape in the Southern Appalachians for nearly 100 years, managing the union of water and power. Tapoco operates four hydroelectric developments in North Carolina and Tennessee on the Cheoah and Little Tennessee Rivers to provide power for Alcoa's smelting operations, in nearby Alcoa, Tennessee. Tapoco also manages thousands of acres of land inside and outside of the FERC Project boundary. The Southern Appalachians are one of the most unique geographic regions in North America. The area's climate and physical landscape help to create suitable habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species. Tapoco has continually demonstrated a commitment to protecting these important natural communities. 

In connection with the Project relicensing, Tapoco and relicensing participants reached a comprehensive Relicensing Settlement Agreement (RSA) for the Project.  Key provisions of the RSA included preservation of APGI’s ability to generate economic power annually to support its aluminum smelting operations in Tennessee; fish and wildlife habitat improvements to enhance species biodiversity, including the restoration of four federally listed endangered fish species; enhanced recreational opportunities in a remote and primitive setting; and protection of cultural resources of historic importance to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Additionally, the RSA established continuous flows in the Cheoah River and Calderwood Bypass reaches, and protected 10,000 acres of undeveloped forest land within the watershed.  Land protection was achieved through a combination of the addition of lands to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (through a land exchange that required Congressional approval) and term and permanent conservation easements. For these stewardship accomplishments, Tapoco received an Outstanding Stewardship of America’s Rivers Award from the National Hydropower Association in 2006.  The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has certified the Tapoco Project as an environmentally-responsible, low-impact hydropower project.  The Tapoco Project is the largest project to be certified by LIHI on the east coast and is the first to receive an eight-year certification in recognition of meeting special watershed management criteria.   Alcoa also received the first Corporate Park Achievement Award from the National Park Conservation Association for its work to permanently set aside 10,000 acres for preservation as ecologically significant land adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.