Research & Evidence
The geospatial case for ginseng restoration
The Investigation
A comprehensive study combining 1938 aerial photography, GPS field surveys, and GIS-based habitat modeling to understand why American ginseng has not returned to recovering forests on TVA-managed land.
This investigation spans 217 years of land use history — from Elizabeth Calloway Daniel's arrival in 1809 through the TVA acquisition of 1965, to present-day field surveys documenting a 60:1 disparity in ginseng populations between historically forested and formerly cleared land.
The habitat suitability model identifies 646 acres of prime and high-suitability habitat on federal land — 69% of the total parcel — where science-guided restoration could begin.
This work is also climate-relevant. American ginseng is a climate-sensitive, trailing-edge species whose southern Appalachian populations face increasing pressure from shifting temperatures and precipitation. Our habitat modeling identifies the sites most likely to sustain viable populations under changing conditions — ensuring that restoration efforts are climate-informed from the outset.
Key Findings
- 01Only 2 ginseng plants found on a 562-acre TVA parcel vs. 104 upstream in historically forested ravines
- 021938 aerials confirm the TVA parcel was cleared farmland — soil disturbance severed mycorrhizal networks
- 03Habitat suitability is 2.2x higher on land that was forested in 1938 vs. formerly cleared land
- 04Upstream populations represent a genetically adapted seed source for natural repopulation
- 05646 acres identified as prime or high-suitability restoration habitat on public land
Maps & Imagery
Four layers of geospatial evidence — from the original TVA acquisition plats to predictive habitat modeling.
TVA Acquisition Parcels — Land taken from families before the 1970 inundation
1938 Aerial Photography — Cleared farmland and bare hillsides before Tims Ford Lake
2026 Satellite — Forest recovery and lake impoundment after 55+ years
Habitat Suitability Model — Where slope, aspect, and canopy align for restoration
Interactive Ginseng Map
Explore the ginseng occurrence data, TVA parcel boundaries, and habitat suitability zones across the Hurricane Creek watershed.
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Pan, zoom, and click markers to explore ginseng occurrence points and habitat data.
Interested in the Full Dataset?
If you're a researcher, land manager, or conservation professional interested in the underlying data, maps, or methodology — reach out.
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