Wetlands

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is charged with protecting the wetlands of the state of Tennessee. The Division of Water Resources carries out this mission by requiring any activity that may alter a wetland to obtain an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP). In addition to presiding over the regulation of wetlands in the state of Tennessee, TDEC also maintains a number of technical resources, conducts educational opportunities relating to wetlands, and offers a variety of voluntary wetland protection resources. 

TDEC's Wetland Program Plan for 2019 through 2025

During the 113th General Assembly, the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee voted to send SB631 on wetlands regulations to a summer study session. As a part of this summer study, TDEC was charged with facilitating stakeholder engagement to inform the development of a framework with policy options for wetlands regulations in Tennessee. TDEC developed a report summarizing the process and results of the stakeholder engagement and providing Commissioner-level recommendations to the Senate for consideration.

For more information, please email water.permits@tn.gov
 

Wetland Screening Tool

The Wetland Screening Tool does not definitively confirm the presence or absence of jurisdictional wetlands, nor does it precisely delineate their location or areal extent. It is a predictive model that uses AI learning, advanced topographical analyses, and information from a large dataset of existing Tennessee wetlands to identify areas where wetlands are likely to occur. The actual presence or absence of wetlands, their jurisdictional status, and their exact location and extent will still need to be ground-truthed and delineated by qualified professionals on any given site. The model should prove extremely valuable to stakeholders in evaluating conservation priorities, development potential, and costs, permit submittals, and for assessing restoration or mitigation suitability.

This Page Last Updated: February 5, 2025 at 10:31 AM