U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander announced Friday that the Tennessee Valley Authority is participating in a three-year agreement with state and federal wildlife agencies that will keep the Erwin National Fish Hatchery open for at least the next three years.

Alexander said per this agreement, the TVA will purchase fish from the state's two national hatcheries - the Erwin National Fish Hatchery and the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery - for fish mitigation.

The TVA will work with federal and state wildlife agencies to see if a permanent solution can be worked out, Alexander said. The Erwin National Fish Hatchery has faced closure in recent years due to federal funding cuts.