thumb|left|Construction on Tellico Dam Construction of the Tellico Dam raised political and environmental concerns, as laws had changed since early development in the valley. Scientists and other researchers had become more aware of the massive environmental effects of the dams and new lakes, and worried about preserving habitats and species. The Tellico Dam project was initially delayed because of concern over the snail darter, a small ray-finned fish which had been discovered in the Little Tennessee River in 1973 and listed as an endangered species two years later. A lawsuit was filed under the Endangered Species Act and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting the snail darter in Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill in 1978. The project's main motive was to support recreational and tourism development, unlike earlier dams constructed by TVA. Land acquired by eminent domain for the Tellico Dam and its reservoir that encountered minimal inundation was sold to private developers for the construction of present-day Tellico Village, a planned retirement community.
thumb|left|construction on tellico dam construction of the tellico dam raised political and environmental concerns as laws had changed since early development in the valley scientists and other researchers had become more aware of the massive environmental effects of the dams and new lakes and worried about preserving habitats and species the tellico dam project was initially delayed because of concern over the snail darter a small ray-finned fish which had been discovered in the little tennessee river in 1973 and listed as an endangered species two years later a lawsuit was filed under the endangered species act and the us supreme court ruled in favor of protecting the snail darter in tennessee valley authority v hill in 1978 the project's main motive was to support recreational and tourism development unlike earlier dams constructed by tva land acquired by eminent domain for the tellico dam and its reservoir that encountered minimal inundation was sold to private developers for the construction of present-day tellico village a planned retirement community