.container { padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px}@media (min-width: 992px) { .container-wide { max-width:120rem; padding-left: 3rem; padding-right: 3rem }}.site-wrapper { margin-top: 3.5rem; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; max-width: none; padding-left: 0; padding-right: 0; overflow-x: hidden}@media (min-width: 992px) { .site-wrapper { margin-top:6.75rem }}.header { padding-top: 0.75rem; position: fixed; z-index: 10; width: 100%; background-color: #fff; top: 0; height: 3.5rem}@media (min-width: 992px) { .header { padding-top:1.5rem; height: 6.75rem }}.header .tva-logo { color: #3f3f3f}.header .header-row { -ms-flex-align: center; align-items: center}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .header .header-row { -ms-flex-align:end; align-items: flex-end }}nav { display: none; background: white; position: fixed; width: 100%; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; top: 3.5rem; right: 0; box-shadow: 0px 5px 20px -15px rgba(0,0,0,0.5),15px 10px 20px -25px rgba(0,0,0,0.5),-15px 10px 20px -25px rgba(0,0,0,0.5)}nav.active { display: block}nav a,nav a:hover { text-decoration: none}@media (min-width: 768px) { nav { width:70vw; padding-left: 2rem; padding-right: 2rem }}@media (min-width: 992px) { nav { top:6.75rem; width: 40vw }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { nav { display:-ms-flexbox; display: flex; -ms-flex-positive: 1; flex-grow: 1; -ms-flex-negative: 0; flex-shrink: 0; -ms-flex-align: end; align-items: flex-end; margin-bottom: 0.3125rem; box-shadow: none; position: static; width: 100%; padding: 0 } nav.active { display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex }}.nav-control { display: block; border: none; background: none; padding: 0; width: 40px; margin-right: 0.625rem}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .nav-control { display:none }}.nav-control .line { position: relative; width: 40px; height: .2rem; margin-bottom: .4rem; background: #414141}.nav-control .line:last-of-type { margin-bottom: 0}.nav-control.active { padding: 15px 0 1px}.nav-control.active .line:first-child { -webkit-transform: rotate(-45deg); transform: rotate(-45deg)}.nav-control.active .line:last-child { -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg); transform: rotate(45deg); top: -9.5px}.nav-control.active .line:nth-child(2) { display: none}.nav-item-group { position: relative; max-width: 540px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0.187rem; padding-right: 0.187rem; margin-bottom: 1rem}@media (min-width: 576px) { .nav-item-group { padding-left:12px; padding-right: 12px }}@media (min-width: 768px) { .nav-item-group { max-width:none; padding-left: 0; padding-right: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0 }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .nav-item-group { margin-bottom:0; margin-right: 1.1%; margin-left: 1.1% }}.nav-item-group a:hover,.nav-item-group a:focus { color: #717171}.nav-item-group.cat-env a:hover { color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group.cat-energy a:hover { color: #E56027}.nav-item-group.cat-econ a:hover { color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group.cat-about a:hover { color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group.cat-kidswhat a:hover { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.cat-kidselec a:hover { color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsenv a:hover { color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsriv a:hover { color: #29afca}.nav-item-group.cat-kidshis a:hover { color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsres a:hover { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.cat-env a:focus { color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group.cat-energy a:focus { color: #E56027}.nav-item-group.cat-econ a:focus { color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group.cat-about a:focus { color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group.cat-kidswhat a:focus { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.cat-kidselec a:focus { color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsenv a:focus { color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsriv a:focus { color: #29afca}.nav-item-group.cat-kidshis a:focus { color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsres a:focus { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.cat-env .sub-nav-list { border-color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group.cat-energy .sub-nav-list { border-color: #E56027}.nav-item-group.cat-econ .sub-nav-list { border-color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group.cat-about .sub-nav-list { border-color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group.cat-kidswhat .sub-nav-list { border-color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.cat-kidselec .sub-nav-list { border-color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsenv .sub-nav-list { border-color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsriv .sub-nav-list { border-color: #29afca}.nav-item-group.cat-kidshis .sub-nav-list { border-color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group.cat-kidsres .sub-nav-list { border-color: #004b85}.nav-item { font-size: 0.7rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: .126em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #414141; position: relative}.nav-heading { display: inline-block; width: 100%; border: none; cursor: pointer}@media (min-width: 1200px) and (hover: hover) { .nav-heading { display:none }}.nav-heading-link { display: none}@media (min-width: 1200px) and (hover: hover) { .nav-heading-link { display:inline-block }}@media (min-width: 1200px) and (hover: hover) { .nav-item-overview { display:none }}.nav-item-group:focus-within .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:focus-within .nav-heading-link { color: #717171}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-env .nav-heading { color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-energy .nav-heading { color: #E56027}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-econ .nav-heading { color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-about .nav-heading { color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidselec .nav-heading { color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading { color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading { color: #29afca}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidshis .nav-heading { color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidsres .nav-heading { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-env .nav-heading-link { color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-energy .nav-heading-link { color: #E56027}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-econ .nav-heading-link { color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-about .nav-heading-link { color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading-link { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidselec .nav-heading-link { color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading-link { color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading-link { color: #29afca}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidshis .nav-heading-link { color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group:focus-within.cat-kidsres .nav-heading-link { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.focus-within .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.focus-within .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover .nav-heading-link { color: #717171}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-env .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-env .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-env .nav-heading { color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-energy .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-energy .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-energy .nav-heading { color: #E56027}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-econ .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-econ .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-econ .nav-heading { color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-about .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-about .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-about .nav-heading { color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidselec .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidselec .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidselec .nav-heading { color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading { color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading { color: #29afca}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidshis .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidshis .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidshis .nav-heading { color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidsres .nav-heading,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidsres .nav-heading,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidsres .nav-heading { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-env .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-env .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-env .nav-heading-link { color: #6A9033}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-energy .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-energy .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-energy .nav-heading-link { color: #E56027}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-econ .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-econ .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-econ .nav-heading-link { color: #2C9199}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-about .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-about .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-about .nav-heading-link { color: #447DAE}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidswhat .nav-heading-link { color: #004b85}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidselec .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidselec .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidselec .nav-heading-link { color: #e43c31}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidsenv .nav-heading-link { color: #7fbd42}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidsriv .nav-heading-link { color: #29afca}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidshis .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidshis .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidshis .nav-heading-link { color: #ffc428}.nav-item-group.focus-within.cat-kidsres .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group.active.cat-kidsres .nav-heading-link,.nav-item-group:hover.cat-kidsres .nav-heading-link { color: #004b85}.sub-nav { background: white; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; -ms-flex-direction: row; flex-direction: row; list-style: none; padding: 1rem 1rem 0; position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px)}.nav-item-group:focus-within .sub-nav { clip: auto; position: relative}.nav-item-group.focus-within .sub-nav,.nav-item-group.active .sub-nav { clip: auto; position: relative}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .sub-nav { position:absolute; width: 40rem; left: -12.4rem; padding: 3.25rem 1rem 1rem; box-shadow: 0px 5px 20px -15px rgba(0,0,0,0.5),15px 10px 20px -25px rgba(0,0,0,0.5),-15px 10px 20px -25px rgba(0,0,0,0.5) } .sub-nav.sub-nav-align-right { left: auto; right: -1rem } .nav-item-group:focus-within .sub-nav { clip: auto; position: absolute } .nav-item-group.focus-within .sub-nav,.nav-item-group.active .sub-nav,.nav-item-group:hover .sub-nav { clip: auto; position: absolute }}.sub-nav-image { min-height: 13rem; position: relative; -ms-flex-positive: 1; flex-grow: 1; max-width: 10rem; background-size: cover; background-repeat: no-repeat}@media (max-width: 1199.98px) { .sub-nav-image { display:none }}.sub-nav-list { -ms-flex-positive: 1; flex-grow: 1; list-style: none; padding-left: 0; position: relative; margin-bottom: 0}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .sub-nav-list { border-top:5px solid #202020; padding-top: 1rem; margin-left: 1.4rem }}.sub-nav-list .nav-item { color: #414141}.sub-nav-list .nav-item:not(:last-child) { margin-bottom: 1rem}.nav-row-icon { -webkit-transform: rotate(-90deg); transform: rotate(-90deg); position: absolute; right: 13%}@media (min-width: 768px) { .nav-row-icon { right:1rem }}@media (min-width: 992px) { .nav-row-icon { right:3rem }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .nav-row-icon { display:none }}.nav-row-icon svg * { fill: #414141}.nav-item-group:focus-within .nav-row-icon { -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg)}.nav-item-group.focus-within .nav-row-icon,.nav-item-group.active .nav-row-icon { -webkit-transform: rotate(0deg); transform: rotate(0deg)}.search-control { border: none; background: none; padding: 0; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .search-control { display:none }}.search-form { display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; margin-bottom: 0.25rem}@media (max-width: 1199.98px) { .search-form { display:none; background: white; position: fixed; top: 6.75rem; right: 0; width: 40vw; padding-top: 1.25rem; padding-right: 1.563rem; padding-bottom: 1.563rem; padding-left: 0.75rem; margin-bottom: 0 } .search-form.active { display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex }}@media (max-width: 991.98px) { .search-form { width:70vw; top: 3.5rem }}@media (max-width: 767.98px) { .search-form { width:100% }}@media (max-width: 1199.98px) { .search-form .form-inline { width:calc((100% - 1.312rem) - 1.125rem) }}.search-form .form-group { width: 100%; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; padding: 0; margin: 0}.search-form .form-group input { margin: 0; width: calc(100% - 3.375rem); height: 1.5rem; border: solid 1px #414141; border-right: 0; border-radius: 0; background-color: #ffffff; box-shadow: none; font-size: 0.7rem; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.41px; line-height: 1}@media (min-width: 992px) { .search-form .form-group input { width:calc(100% - 2.25rem) }}.search-form .form-group input::-webkit-input-placeholder { color: #717171}.search-form .form-group input::-ms-input-placeholder { color: #717171}.search-form .form-group input::placeholder { color: #717171}.search-form .form-group .btn { position: relative; border: 0; padding: 0; margin: 0 !important; width: 3.375rem; min-height: 0; height: 1.5rem; background: #414141; color: white; opacity: 1; font-size: 0.5rem; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer}@media (min-width: 992px) { .search-form .form-group .btn { font-size:0; width: 2.25rem }}@media (min-width: 992px) { .search-form .form-group .btn::before { content:''; width: 1.813rem; height: 0.813rem; position: absolute; left: 50%; top: 50%; -webkit-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); transform: translate(-50%, -50%); background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: center }}.search-form .close-control { border: none; background: none; padding: 0; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; margin-right: 1.125rem}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .search-form .close-control { display:none }}.sf-search-results .sf-media-body { margin-bottom: 1.5rem}footer { background-color: #202020; color: white; padding: 2.5rem 0}@media (min-width: 992px) { footer { margin-top:6rem; padding: 5rem 0 }}footer div { color: inherit}footer h3 { letter-spacing: 0.18em; font-size: 0.625rem; font-weight: 300; text-transform: uppercase; border-top: 1px solid white; margin-top: 2.3rem; padding-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 1.6em; line-height: 1.5}@media (min-width: 768px) { footer h3 { border-top:none; padding-top: 0; line-height: 1.3 }}@media (min-width: 992px) { footer h3 { margin-top:0; margin-bottom: 0.8em; font-size: 0.85rem }}footer ul { list-style: none; padding-left: 0}footer ul li { font-size: 0.625rem; line-height: 1.2; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.18em; font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 1.6em}@media (min-width: 992px) { footer ul li { font-size:0.85rem; margin-bottom: 0.8em }}footer ul li a { color: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-size: inherit; text-decoration: none}footer ul li a:hover { color: inherit}footer .social-icon { padding: 0.25rem}footer .social-icon:hover { text-decoration: none}footer .social-icon img { width: 1.25rem}.tva-logo { display: block}.tva-logo img { width: 7.25rem}@media (min-width: 992px) { .tva-logo img { width:12rem }}.section-hero { display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; -ms-flex-direction: column; flex-direction: column; -ms-flex-pack: center; justify-content: center; min-height: 125vw; margin-top: 3.5rem; margin-bottom: 3.5rem; background-size: cover; background-position: center; overflow: hidden; position: relative}.section-hero.cat-env .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #6A9033}.section-hero.cat-energy .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #E56027}.section-hero.cat-econ .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #2C9199}.section-hero.cat-about .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #447DAE}.section-hero.cat-kidswhat .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #004b85}.section-hero.cat-kidselec .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #e43c31}.section-hero.cat-kidsenv .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #7fbd42}.section-hero.cat-kidsriv .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #29afca}.section-hero.cat-kidshis .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #ffc428}.section-hero.cat-kidsres .section-hero-overlay:after { background-color: #004b85}@media (min-width: 576px) { .section-hero { min-height:55vw; margin-top: 2.75rem; margin-bottom: 2.75rem; padding: 4rem 1.5rem 2rem }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .section-hero { min-height:40vw; margin-top: 3rem; margin-bottom: 3rem }}.section-hero .section-hero-overlay { display: inline-block}.section-hero .section-hero-overlay::after { width: 100vw; height: 800px; -webkit-transform: translate(0, -50%); transform: translate(0, -50%); position: absolute; content: ''; top: 50%; left: 0; mix-blend-mode: multiply}@media (min-width: 768px) { .section-hero .section-hero-overlay { position:relative } .section-hero .section-hero-overlay::after { -webkit-transform: translate(0, -50%) skew(-20deg); transform: translate(0, -50%) skew(-20deg); right: -100px; left: auto }}.section-hero a { text-decoration: none}.section-hero a:hover { text-decoration: none}.section-hero h3 { color: white; font-size: 3.7rem; letter-spacing: -0.03em; font-weight: 700; line-height: 0.85; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0.15em; position: relative; z-index: 1}@media (min-width: 768px) { .section-hero h3 { font-size:5.5rem }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .section-hero h3 { font-size:9rem }}.section-hero p { color: white; width: 15rem; font-size: 1.2rem; letter-spacing: 0.015em; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.15; position: relative; z-index: 1}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .section-hero p { font-size:1.7rem; width: 20rem }}.slick-arrow { font-size: 0; line-height: 0; position: absolute; display: block; width: 20px; height: 20px; padding: 0; cursor: pointer; color: transparent; border: none; outline: none; background: transparent; z-index: 1}.slick-arrow::before { display: inline-block; width: 0.875rem}.slick-dots { position: absolute; display: block; width: 100%; padding: 0; margin: 0; list-style: none; text-align: center}.slick-dots li { position: relative; display: inline-block; width: 20px; height: 20px; padding: 0; margin: 0 2px; cursor: pointer}.slick-dots li button { font-size: 0; line-height: 0; display: block; width: 20px; height: 20px; padding: 5px; cursor: pointer; color: transparent; border: 0; outline: none; background: transparent}.slick-dots li button::before { font-size: 40px; line-height: 20px; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 20px; height: 20px; content: "•"; text-align: center; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale}.hero-carousel { margin-bottom: 0.75rem}.hero-carousel .slick-slider.slick-dotted { margin-bottom: 0}.hero-carousel .slick-dots { bottom: 10px}@media (min-width: 768px) { .hero-carousel .slick-dots { bottom:20px }}.hero-carousel .slick-dots li button::before { color: #f8f8f8; opacity: 0.65}.hero-carousel .slick-dots li.slick-active button::before { color: #f8f8f8; opacity: 1}.hero-carousel .slick-track { display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex}.hero-carousel .slick-slide { height: auto}.hero-carousel .slick-slide:not(.slick-current) { cursor: pointer}.hero-carousel .slick-slide:focus { outline: 0 !important}.hero-carousel .section-hero { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; height: 100%}@media (min-width: 768px) { .hero-carousel .section-hero { border-left:6px solid white; border-right: 6px solid white }}.hero-carousel-inner div:not(:first-child) { display: none}.hero-carousel-inner.slick-initialized div:not(:first-child) { display: block}.resources-carousel { margin-bottom: 10rem; margin-top: 3.5rem}@media (min-width: 768px) { .resources-carousel { margin-top:2.75rem }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .resources-carousel { margin-top:3rem }}.resources-carousel h2 { font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1; width: 7em; border: none; margin-top: 0; padding-top: 0; margin-bottom: 2rem}@media (min-width: 992px) { .resources-carousel h2 { font-size:2.15rem }}.resources-carousel .slick-dots { bottom: -5rem}.resources-carousel .slick-dots li button::before { color: #9f9f9f; opacity: 1}.resources-carousel .slick-dots li.slick-active button::before { color: #414141; opacity: 1}.resources-carousel .slick-arrow { bottom: -5rem}.resources-carousel .slick-prev { left: 0}.resources-carousel .slick-prev::before { content: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 10 14'%3E%3Cpath d='M10 0L0 7l10 7v-3.4310306L4.90071577 7 10 3.42944507z' fill='%23414141' fill-rule='nonzero'/%3E%3C/svg%3E%0A")}.resources-carousel .slick-next { right: 0}.resources-carousel .slick-next::before { content: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 7 10'%3E%3Cpath d='M0 0l6.97451995 4.88216397L0 9.76432793V7.37134881l3.55650596-2.48918484L0 2.39187331z' fill='%23414141' fill-rule='nonzero'/%3E%3C/svg%3E%0A")}.resources-carousel-inner { display: none}.resources-carousel-inner.slick-initialized { display: block}.resources-carousel-item { margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px}.resources-carousel-item img { width: 100%}.resources-carousel-item a { display: block; text-decoration: none; margin-top: 2.5rem}.resources-carousel-item a::before { border-top: 5px solid; content: ""; display: block; -webkit-transform-origin: top; transform-origin: top; transition: -webkit-transform 0.2s; transition: transform 0.2s; transition: transform 0.2s, -webkit-transform 0.2s}.resources-carousel-item a:hover,.resources-carousel-item a:focus { color: #717171}.resources-carousel-item a:hover::before,.resources-carousel-item a:focus::before { -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.8); transform: scaleY(1.8)}.resources-carousel-item h3 { font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 0.25em}@media (min-width: 992px) { .resources-carousel-item h3 { font-size:2.15rem }}.resources-carousel-item.cat-env a::before { border-color: #6A9033}.resources-carousel-item.cat-energy a::before { border-color: #E56027}.resources-carousel-item.cat-econ a::before { border-color: #2C9199}.resources-carousel-item.cat-about a::before { border-color: #447DAE}.resources-carousel-item.cat-kidswhat a::before { border-color: #004b85}.resources-carousel-item.cat-kidselec a::before { border-color: #e43c31}.resources-carousel-item.cat-kidsenv a::before { border-color: #7fbd42}.resources-carousel-item.cat-kidsriv a::before { border-color: #29afca}.resources-carousel-item.cat-kidshis a::before { border-color: #ffc428}.resources-carousel-item.cat-kidsres a::before { border-color: #004b85}.home-content,.home-resources { margin-bottom: 2rem}.home-content h3,.home-content h4,.home-resources h3,.home-resources h4 { font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; padding-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 0.25em}@media (min-width: 992px) { .home-content h3,.home-content h4,.home-resources h3,.home-resources h4 { font-size:2.15rem }}.home-content.cat-env a::before { border-color: #6A9033}.home-content.cat-energy a::before { border-color: #E56027}.home-content.cat-econ a::before { border-color: #2C9199}.home-content.cat-about a::before { border-color: #447DAE}.home-content.cat-kidswhat a::before { border-color: #004b85}.home-content.cat-kidselec a::before { border-color: #e43c31}.home-content.cat-kidsenv a::before { border-color: #7fbd42}.home-content.cat-kidsriv a::before { border-color: #29afca}.home-content.cat-kidshis a::before { border-color: #ffc428}.home-content.cat-kidsres a::before { border-color: #004b85}@media (min-width: 992px) { .home-content { min-height:13rem }}.home-content a { display: block; text-decoration: none}.home-content a::before { border-top: 5px solid; content: ''; display: block; -webkit-transform-origin: top; transform-origin: top; transition: -webkit-transform 0.2s; transition: transform 0.2s; transition: transform 0.2s, -webkit-transform 0.2s}.home-content a:hover,.home-content a:focus { color: #717171}.home-content a:hover::before,.home-content a:focus::before { -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.8); transform: scaleY(1.8)}.home-content p { max-width: 16.7em; letter-spacing: 0.03em; font-weight: 400}@media (min-width: 992px) { .home-content p { margin-right:1em }}.home-resources h4 { margin-bottom: 1rem; border-top: 5px solid}.home-resources.cat-env h4 { border-color: #6A9033}.home-resources.cat-energy h4 { border-color: #E56027}.home-resources.cat-econ h4 { border-color: #2C9199}.home-resources.cat-about h4 { border-color: #447DAE}.home-resources.cat-kidswhat h4 { border-color: #004b85}.home-resources.cat-kidselec h4 { border-color: #e43c31}.home-resources.cat-kidsenv h4 { border-color: #7fbd42}.home-resources.cat-kidsriv h4 { border-color: #29afca}.home-resources.cat-kidshis h4 { border-color: #ffc428}.home-resources.cat-kidsres h4 { border-color: #004b85}.home-resources p { font-weight: 500; margin-bottom: 0.75em}@media (min-width: 992px) { .home-resources p { font-size:1.2rem }}.home-resources a { display: block; text-decoration: none}.home-resources a::after { content: '\2060'; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 7 10'%3E%3Cpath d='M0 0l6.97451995 4.88216397L0 9.76432793V7.37134881l3.55650596-2.48918484L0 2.39187331z' fill='%23000' fill-rule='nonzero'/%3E%3C/svg%3E%0A"); padding-left: 0.5em; margin-left: 0.75em; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; background-position: center; vertical-align: middle}.home-resources a:hover,.home-resources a:focus { color: #717171}.home-resources a:hover::after,.home-resources a:focus::after { background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 7 10'%3E%3Cpath d='M0 0l6.97451995 4.88216397L0 9.76432793V7.37134881l3.55650596-2.48918484L0 2.39187331z' fill='%23717171' fill-rule='nonzero'/%3E%3C/svg%3E%0A")}.bg-img-block { padding: 4.5rem 0; background-size: cover; background-position: left center; margin-bottom: 0.75rem}@media (min-width: 992px) { .bg-img-block { padding:3.4rem 0.5rem; min-height: 18.6rem; height: 100% }}.bg-img-block h3 { font-size: 1.375rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0.75em; color: white}@media (min-width: 992px) { .bg-img-block h3 { font-size:2.1rem; min-height: 2em; max-width: 50%; margin-bottom: 1.5em }}.bg-img-block p { font-weight: 500; max-width: 10rem; color: white}@media (min-width: 992px) { .bg-img-block p { font-size:1.3rem }}.bg-img-block a { display: block; text-decoration: none}.bg-img-block a::after { content: '\2060'; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 7 10'%3E%3Cpath d='M0 0l6.97451995 4.88216397L0 9.76432793V7.37134881l3.55650596-2.48918484L0 2.39187331z' fill='%23fff' fill-rule='nonzero'/%3E%3C/svg%3E%0A"); padding-left: 0.5em; margin-left: 0.75em; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; background-position: center; vertical-align: middle}.bg-img-block a:hover,.bg-img-block a:focus { color: #ddd}.bg-img-block a:hover::after,.bg-img-block a:focus::after { background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 7 10'%3E%3Cpath d='M0 0l6.97451995 4.88216397L0 9.76432793V7.37134881l3.55650596-2.48918484L0 2.39187331z' fill='%23ddd' fill-rule='nonzero'/%3E%3C/svg%3E%0A")}[class*="hover-swap-img"] { display: none}[class*="hover-swap-img"]:first-child { display: block}[class*="hover-swap-area"] { position: relative}@media (max-width: 767.98px) { [class*="hover-swap-area"] { display:none }}[class*="hover-swap-area"] [class*="hover-swap-img"] { display: block; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0}[class*="hover-swap-area"] [class*="hover-swap-img"]:first-child { z-index: 1; position: relative}[class*="hover-swap-area"] [class*="hover-swap-img"].active { z-index: 2}.breadcrumb { padding: 0; text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: 500; font-size: 0.75rem; letter-spacing: 0.125em; margin-bottom: 1.5rem}.breadcrumb::before { content: 'You are here: '; padding-right: 0.5rem}.breadcrumb li,.breadcrumb li a,.breadcrumb li.active { font-size: inherit; color: inherit; line-height: inherit}.breadcrumb a { text-decoration: none}.breadcrumb a:hover,.breadcrumb a:focus { text-decoration: underline}.lead { border-top: 5px solid; font-size: 1.25rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.5; padding-top: 0.5rem; margin-bottom: 1rem}.page-category-env .lead { border-color: #6a9033}.page-category-energy .lead { border-color: #e56027}.page-category-econ .lead { border-color: #2c9199}.page-category-about .lead { border-color: #447dae}.page-category-kidswhat .lead { border-color: #004b85}.page-category-kidselec .lead { border-color: #e43c31}.page-category-kidsenv .lead { border-color: #7fbd42}.page-category-kidsriv .lead { border-color: #29afca}.page-category-kidshis .lead { border-color: #ffc428}.page-category-kidsres .lead { border-color: #004b85}.card .card-img-top { border-radius: 0}.card .card-body { padding-left: 0; padding-right: 0}.card .card-body .card-title { font-size: 2.15rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1; color: inherit; margin-top: 1rem; padding-top: 0.25em; margin-bottom: 0.25em; border-top: 5px solid}.page-category-env .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #6a9033}.page-category-energy .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #e56027}.page-category-econ .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #2c9199}.page-category-about .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #447dae}.page-category-kidswhat .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #004b85}.page-category-kidselec .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #e43c31}.page-category-kidsenv .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #7fbd42}.page-category-kidsriv .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #29afca}.page-category-kidshis .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #ffc428}.page-category-kidsres .card .card-body .card-title { border-color: #004b85}.card .card-body a.btn.btn-primary { color: inherit; font-weight: 400; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: 0.02em; display: inline; font-size: inherit}.form-control { border: 1px solid black; border-radius: 0; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.125em; height: 2.5rem; box-shadow: none}.btn { background-color: transparent; border-radius: 0; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 0.75rem; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.125em; min-height: 2.5rem; padding: 0.6rem 2.5rem}.btn.btn-primary { color: black; background-color: white; border: 1px solid black}.btn.btn-link { color: inherit}.main-body .col,.main-body [class*="col-"] { margin-bottom: 3.5rem}.main-body h2:not(:first-child) { margin-top: 3.5rem}.main-body h3:not(:first-child),.main-body h4:not(:first-child),.main-body h5:not(:first-child),.main-body h6:not(:first-child) { margin-top: 2.5rem}.sidebar h3 { border-top: 1px solid; padding-top: 0.2em}.page-category-env .sidebar h3 { border-color: #6a9033}.page-category-energy .sidebar h3 { border-color: #e56027}.page-category-econ .sidebar h3 { border-color: #2c9199}.page-category-about .sidebar h3 { border-color: #447dae}.page-category-kidswhat .sidebar h3 { border-color: #004b85}.page-category-kidselec .sidebar h3 { border-color: #e43c31}.page-category-kidsenv .sidebar h3 { border-color: #7fbd42}.page-category-kidsriv .sidebar h3 { border-color: #29afca}.page-category-kidshis .sidebar h3 { border-color: #ffc428}.page-category-kidsres .sidebar h3 { border-color: #004b85}.sidebar h2,.sidebar h3,.sidebar h4,.sidebar h5,.sidebar h6 { margin-top: 2.5rem}.sidebar>div:first-child h2:first-child,.sidebar>div:first-child h3:first-child,.sidebar>div:first-child h4:first-child,.sidebar>div:first-child h5:first-child,.sidebar>div:first-child h6:first-child { margin-top: 0}.main-body+.sidebar { padding-left: 0}#mc_embed_signup { margin-bottom: 2.5rem}#mce-EMAIL { border: none; box-shadow: none; border-bottom: 1px solid black; border-radius: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; height: auto}#mc-embedded-subscribe { border: none; background: none; color: black; font-weight: 500; padding: 0}.table { margin-top: 1.5rem; margin-bottom: 1.5rem}.table td,.table th { padding: 1rem; border: none}.table td:first-child,.table th:first-child { padding-left: 0.4rem}.table td:last-child,.table th:last-child { padding-right: 0.4rem}.table thead th { vertical-align: top; border: none; font-size: 1.25rem; height: 5.75rem}.table th { border-top: 1px solid}.page-category-env .table th { border-color: #6a9033}.page-category-energy .table th { border-color: #e56027}.page-category-econ .table th { border-color: #2c9199}.page-category-about .table th { border-color: #447dae}.page-category-kidswhat .table th { border-color: #004b85}.page-category-kidselec .table th { border-color: #e43c31}.page-category-kidsenv .table th { border-color: #7fbd42}.page-category-kidsriv .table th { border-color: #29afca}.page-category-kidshis .table th { border-color: #ffc428}.page-category-kidsres .table th { border-color: #004b85}.table tbody tr { height: 4.25rem}.table tr { border-top: 1px solid}.page-category-env .table tr { border-color: rgba(106,144,51,0.5)}.page-category-energy .table tr { border-color: rgba(229,96,39,0.5)}.page-category-econ .table tr { border-color: rgba(44,145,153,0.5)}.page-category-about .table tr { border-color: rgba(68,125,174,0.5)}.page-category-kidswhat .table tr { border-color: rgba(0,75,133,0.5)}.page-category-kidselec .table tr { border-color: rgba(228,60,49,0.5)}.page-category-kidsenv .table tr { border-color: rgba(127,189,66,0.5)}.page-category-kidsriv .table tr { border-color: rgba(41,175,202,0.5)}.page-category-kidshis .table tr { border-color: rgba(255,196,40,0.5)}.page-category-kidsres .table tr { border-color: rgba(0,75,133,0.5)}.table-striped tbody tr { border: none}.page-category-env .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(106,144,51,0.27)}.page-category-energy .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(229,96,39,0.27)}.page-category-econ .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(44,145,153,0.27)}.page-category-about .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(68,125,174,0.27)}.page-category-kidswhat .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(0,75,133,0.27)}.page-category-kidselec .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(228,60,49,0.27)}.page-category-kidsenv .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(127,189,66,0.27)}.page-category-kidsriv .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(41,175,202,0.27)}.page-category-kidshis .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(255,196,40,0.27)}.page-category-kidsres .table-striped tbody tr:nth-of-type(2n+1) { background-color: rgba(0,75,133,0.27)}.accordion { margin-top: 2rem; margin-bottom: 2rem}.accordion h2 { font-size: 1.25rem; border-top: 0; padding-top: 0}.accordion .btn { position: relative; width: 100%; text-align: left; padding: 0; text-transform: none; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; min-height: 0}.accordion .btn.btn-link::after { content: ''; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 50%; -webkit-transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(-178deg); transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(-178deg); width: 10px; height: 10px; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='20px' height='20px' viewBox='0 0 7 6'%3E%3Cg id='Page-1' stroke='none' stroke-width='1' fill='none' fill-rule='evenodd' %3E%3Cg id='Mobile-Copy-2' transform='translate(-300.000000, -84.000000)' fill='%23414141' fill-rule='nonzero' %3E%3Cg id='Nav2_2' transform='translate(0.000000, 56.000000)' %3E%3Cpolygon id='Path' transform='translate(303.500000, 31.000000) scale(-1, 1) rotate(90.000000) translate(-303.500000, -31.000000) ' points='301 28 306 31 301 34 301 32.5295583 303.549642 31 301 29.4697622' %3E%3C/polygon%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E"); background-size: 10px 10px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: center}.accordion .btn.collapsed::after { content: ''; -webkit-transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(0deg); transform: translateY(-50%) rotate(0deg)}.accordion .card .card-body { padding-left: 1.25rem; padding-right: 1.25rem}.accordion .card .card-body p { margin-bottom: 1rem}.page-category-env .kids-title { color: #6a9033}.page-category-energy .kids-title { color: #e56027}.page-category-econ .kids-title { color: #2c9199}.page-category-about .kids-title { color: #447dae}.page-category-kidswhat .kids-title { color: #004b85}.page-category-kidselec .kids-title { color: #e43c31}.page-category-kidsenv .kids-title { color: #7fbd42}.page-category-kidsriv .kids-title { color: #29afca}.page-category-kidshis .kids-title { color: #ffc428}.page-category-kidsres .kids-title { color: #004b85}.full-bleed { width: 100vw; max-width: none; margin-left: -12px}@media (min-width: 576px) { .full-bleed { margin-left:calc(-50vw + 270px - 12px) }}@media (min-width: 768px) { .full-bleed { margin-left:calc(-50vw + 360px - 12px) }}@media (min-width: 992px) { .full-bleed { margin-left:calc(-50vw + 480px - 12px) }}@media (min-width: 1200px) { .full-bleed { margin-left:calc(-50vw + 570px - 12px) }}.full-bleed-left { max-width: none}@media (min-width: 768px) { .full-bleed-left { 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Angler casting on river.

The Rhythm of the River

Aug 1, 2024

Fantastic Fly Fishing? Head to TVA’s Tailwaters

In the Clinch River, under the shade of low-leaning trees, fly lines lashed like lassos.

Ken Weisz stood in a sun-sparkled slice of water near Hibbs Island, at the tailwaters of Norris Dam, pointing to a calm circle where insects puckered the surface.

“You’ll look for those flat spots where the bugs land on the water,” Weisz, TVA’s Northeast Region land use and permitting program manager, said.

His voice grew just loud enough to hear over the river’s rush. Other fly fishers dotted the river below, in search of elusive fish.

“We’ve got so much fly fishing in our area,” he said. “You can really fish all year round. We’re pretty lucky.”

This world-class fishing is found in Tennessee Valley Authority tailwaters – cool, oxygenated water flowing from dams across the seven-state service area – because of careful management by TVA experts and partners throughout the region.

The Clinch River offers prime access. TVA recently rebuilt Hibbs Island to restore flow over the weir dams and improve river habitat.

Already by early summer, 22,000 hatchery-raised brown and rainbow trout had been stocked in the Clinch River, according to Bob Stephan, vice president of the Clinch River chapter of Trout Unlimited.

And the fish get big.

Fly fishers are known to catch and release 2-foot-long trout here.

TVA’s partners, including Trout Unlimited, also host workshops to invite people of all abilities to try the sport, ensuring everyone can feel confident wading into these legendary rivers.

Fly fisherman casting on river.

Dick Geiger, a member of Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited, casts a fly during a recent visit to the Clinch River. Geiger has been fly fishing for the better part of six decades.

‘We’re Pretty Spoiled’

When TVA releases water from Norris Dam to generate clean energy, the river rises.

Kayakers and boaters often float the Clinch River to a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency boat ramp a few miles downriver.

“Warm water species like the bass and the bluegill, those tend to be in the lower stretches of the river,” Weisz said. “You might get a mix of all the species. We’re pretty spoiled.”

Fly fishing means learning to watch the water.

Fish rise to sip insects from the water’s surface in different ways.

Rises can look like swirls or splashes, rings of bubbles left drifting on the water, or even a whole fish flinging itself into the air.

“You’ll see just their nose and all of a sudden the bug will disappear,” Dick Geiger, a member of Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited, said.

The types of insects fish eat change with the seasons. In spring and summer, hatching flies dimple the water’s surface.

“During the winter, this is mostly a nymph river,” Geiger said.

Nymphs are the larval stage of insects. Fly fishers will tie their flies to mimic crawling aquatic insects on the rocky river bottom. All of this takes patience and practice to learn.

Geiger estimates he’s been fly fishing for more than six decades. But don’t try to call him a pro.

“Ehhhh,” he said, smiling. “I’m not sure anyone’s an expert.”

He held up a streamer – a fly he tied using chicken feathers and a bit of metallic flash to resemble a bait fish.

“This will move with the water,” Geiger said. “It’ll pulse like this and catch (the fish’s) attention.”

The streamer is a wet fly, which Weisz also fishes, sending his flies floating in the current.

Weisz, who studied fish with renowned ichthyology professor David Etnier, works with natural resources as part of his job at TVA. He finds every part of fly fishing, year-round, intriguing.

“I like the art of the fly tying itself,” Weisz said. “I like the biology of trying to match the insects. I love being outside. I like the science and tactical part of trying to know where the fish are, then hopefully getting them to take what I’m throwing.”

Close-up of fly on line.

Geiger displays a streamer, a fly he tied to mimic a small bait fish swimming.

Conservation and Community

Everyone has their own reasons for fly fishing.

It’s art.

It’s science.

It offers solitude and an incredible immersive experience in nature.

And it engages people with their home rivers, building a community that cares for the health of the region’s waters.

“When I’m not fishing, I work with a lot of youth (fishing) programs,” Geiger said. That includes the Institute of Tremont’s summer camp for kids. “We’ll be fishing tied flies, but we’ll also be looking at stream ecology, biology and all kinds of other educational programs.”

“We try to do a lot of conservation work,” Stephan agreed. “And we educate people.”

He and board member Dennis Baxter, a retired TVA zoologist, worked with Dave Matthews, TVA aquatic zoologist, to establish Trout Unlimited’s benthic macroinvertebrate sampling program in the Clinch River.

“Dave Matthews provided us with field manuals as well as instruction,” Stephan said.

Trout Unlimited, which purchased equipment and nets, works with the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and students from the American Fisheries Society.

“These young people are the next generation of doing conservation,” Stephan said.

Recruiting new fly fishers means creating advocates for clean rivers, and Stephan relishes teaching others the craft.

“With fly fishing, you’re not casting a fly,” he said. “You’re casting a line.”

He held his hand out as if gripping a long, light rod, then swooped his hand over his shoulder and back.

“You build energy in the rod, getting (it) to bend,” Stephan said. “Then in the casting motion, you reverse that bend, which transfers the energy. It’s rhythmic. It’s almost like dancing.”

Weisz, Geiger and Stephan said they fish for the experience outdoors and the chance to soak in the cool waters of their home rivers.

And, of course, for the unrivaled solitude.

“You’re standing in the water and a flock of geese will fly over your head,” Stephan said. “You can hear the wind passing through their wings.”

He looked upriver, where the morning sun had burned off most of the mist and the water glowed green, a mirror of the forest above.

“Trout don’t live in ugly places,” Stephan said, smiling. “Only beautiful ones.”

Bob Stephan

Every new fly fisherman is a new advocate for clean rivers, Bob Stephan, vice president of the Clinch River chapter of Trout Unlimited, said.

PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: Ken Weisz, TVA’s Northeast Region land use and permitting program manager, casts a fly in a section of Clinch River near Hibbs Island. 

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