Tennessee’s wetlands, cedar glades, springs and mountain streams, combine with the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers to support unrivaled diversity of fish, mussels, and freshwater fauna as well as rare and unique species. These diverse habitats support over 377 bird and mammal species, 325 fish, and 437 other aquatic species. Hunters and anglers are aware of the vast resources found within Tennessee as more than a million of them reside in the state, contributing to more than $110 million to the state and local economies. However, the state’s wildlife action plan provides a comprehensive analysis that identifies a total of 37 potential sources stress for its priority species and habitats. Using a combination of GIS data and models, along with partnerships between state and local agencies, and public and private stakeholders, Tennessee’s Wildlife Action Plan is working to conserve its unique biodiversity and natural resources.

Tennessee State Wildlife Action Plan

More about conservation in Tennessee

SARP Contact:  Bill Reeves, Chief of Fisheries, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Key Focus Areas:

PUBLIC USE
Big South Fork Recreation with Habitat Protection
Cherokee National Forest Brook Trout Habitat

IMPERILED FISH AND AQUATIC SPECIES RECOVERY
Allen Dairy Project
Big South Fork Recreation with Habitat Protection

INTER-JURISDICTIONAL FISHERIES
Big South Fork Recreation with Habitat Protection

AQUATIC HABITAT CONSERVATION
Big South Fork Recreation with Habitat Protection
Allen Dairy Project
Cherokee National Forest Brook Trout Habitat
Reintroduce Brook Trout

AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES (ANS)
TENNESSEE ANS Management Project
Current Status of ANS Management Plan: Completed and in implementation stage.
SARP ANS Contact: Bobby Wilson, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
For more information: http://tennessee.gov/twra/pdfs/aquaticplan.pdf
SARP ANS Coordinator:  Marilyn Barrett-O’Leary

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Program Activity:

SOUTHEAST AQUATIC HABITAT PLAN (SAHP) & NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN (NFHAP)
Big South Fork Recreation with Habitat Protection
Allen Dairy Project
Cherokee National Forest Brook Trout Habitat
Reintroduce Brook Trout

SOUTHEASTERN  INSTREAM FLOW NETWORK (SIFN)
Tennessee Instream Flow Project
Current Instream Flow Policy:  Tennessee has two sources of instream flow policy.  The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency has a policy of not allowing withdrawals to cause flows less than 20% above the September median flow or 20% above the appropriate multiple of the 7Q10 and reflect the necessary flow regime according to the natural hydrograph of that river.  The TWRA Instream Flow Program is doing site-specific studies to determine additional instream flow recommendations for water withdrawals under the Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP) issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Water Pollution Control.  In addition TDEC has narrative water quality standards that protect the natural seasonal variation of stream flow and reflect regionally based biointegrity goals under fish and aquatic life use classification under Chapter 1200-4-3, General Water Quality Criteria.

SIFN State Team participant organizations:

• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control
• Cumberland River Compact
• The Nature Conservancy

Instream Flow Committee Participants

• US Army Corps of Engineers
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Supply
• US Geological Survey
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Entrix Inc.
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• Cumberland River Compact
• Harpeth River Watershed Association
• Stones River Watershed Association
• The Nature Conservancy

SARP Contact:  Kimberly Elkin, Instream Flow Biologist, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

SIFN Coordinator:  Marilyn Barrett-O’Leary

Instream Flow Update:

1.  The Instream Flow Program has developed the first two flow recommendations to inform ARAP permits under consideration by TDEC.  These flow recommendations are based on TWRA instream flow policy and site-specific hydrologic, geomorphologic, and biological measurements.  Two more site-specific flow recommendations are being drafted for 2009 after additional hydrologic and biological information is collected.