The Tennessee Field Office is a leader in conserving Tennessee's imperiled species and their habitats, ensuring that sustainable populations of fish, wildlife, and plants continue to thrive for future generations.

Latest News

Portrait of a hellbender under water
Endangered Species Act
Proposal to list the eastern hellbender as endangered
Today, we announced a proposal to list the eastern hellbender as an endangered species throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act. Eastern hellbenders are found in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania...
Brown and black striated freshwater mussels sitting a steel truck bed
Endangered Species Act
Proposing critical habitat for four mussel species
We're proposing to designate critical habitat for four species of endangered freshwater mussels. Habitat for the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox and spectaclecase mussels can be found in 17 states in the central and eastern United States. We're proposing to designate a total of 3,974 river miles of...
River water running between two banks of green trees under white cloudy sky
Grants Process Begins for Return of Natural Resources at Oak Ridge Reservation
Officials overseeing $42 million for restoration of natural resources at the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) today announced the opening of Requests for Proposals for grants from the fund and released a manual for how to obtain them.
Woman at a microscope set up at at pickup truck
Endangered Species Act
Snapshot: Biologists Begin Assessing Area Streams Post-Hurricane Helene
Post-Hurricane Helene, Fish and Wildlife Service biologists begin the long process of assessing area streams and strategizing wildlife recovery.
Hands holding fish in viewing glass
Endangered Species Act
Draft Recovery Plan Now Available for Barrens Topminnow 
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is excited to announce a draft recovery plan for the Barrens topminnow, a small fish only found in spring-fed streams of the Barrens Plateau in middle Tennessee.
close up of a freshwater mussel laying in a person's hand
Endangered Species Act
Public Invited to Comment on Slabside Pearlymussel Draft Recovery Plan
The public can now view and comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s draft recovery plan for the endangered slabside pearlymussel, a freshwater mussel which helps protect water quality by filtering out pollutants, algae, and harmful bacteria.
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About Us

Elk River
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The Tennessee Field Office was established in 1977 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Our team is involved in conservation throughout the state, focusing on recovery of over 100 threatened and endangered species, with the majority occurring in central and east Tennessee.  Working with others, we have demonstrated success in fulfilling the purposes of the Endangered Species Act, conserving ecosystems and recovering multiple species to the point that the protection of the Endangered Species Act is no longer necessary. 

What We Do

Rock shelter with Cumberland sandwort
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The Tennessee Field Office provides assistance to Federal and State agencies, local governments, businesses, and the general public relative to conserving, protecting, and restoring habitat for federally threatened and endangered species. Our assistance is typically provided through six programs: pre-development consultation, federal permits and projects, endangered species listing and recovery, environmental contaminants, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, and education/outreach.

Our Organization

As a field office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are charged with implementing the Service's programs. Below you'll find a list, with links to more information about the programs we carry out for Tennessee.

A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Close up of a California condor. Its pink featherless head contrasts with its black feathers.
We provide national leadership in the recovery and conservation of our nation's imperiled plant and animal species, working with experts in the scientific community to identify species on the verge of extinction and to build the road to recovery to bring them back. We work with a range of public...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
A duck flies over a tundra pond.
We use the best scientific information available to determine whether to add a species to (list) or remove from (delist) the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. We also determine whether already listed species should be reclassified from threatened to endangered (uplist...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Condor soars over mountain ridge.
We work with partners to conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend, developing and maintaining conservation programs for these species to improve their status to the point that Endangered Species Act protection is no longer necessary for survival. This...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Butterfly with orange, brown, and white wings perched perched on a flower head gathering nectar with another butterfly on the backside of the flower head.
We assess the conservation status of species, using the best scientific information available, and identify those that warrant listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. A species that we find warrants a proposal to list as endangered or threatened, but listing is...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA
Partners for Fish and Wildlife: Nevada Coordinator Susan Abele Meets with Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Member to Conduct a Site Visit at Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program provides free technical and financial assistance to landowners, managers, tribes, corporations, schools and nonprofits interested in improving wildlife habitat on their land. Since 1987, we have helped more than 30,000 landowners to complete more than 50,...
Program

Our Species

Biologist holding a Nashville crayfish
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Our staff are experts on several federal threatened and endangered species Tennessee.  Learn more about the species that are the focus of our conservation efforts.

Projects and Research

Cumberland Sandwort Delisting Celebration

Cumberland sandwort protected area at Picket State park
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On April 8, the Service joined conservation partners in a celebration of the recovery of the Cumberland sandwort, which was delisted in September of 2021. This celebration with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation - Division of Natural Areas, Tennessee State Parks, National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and others marked the third time that the Tennessee ES Field Office has had the privilege of honoring outstanding results delivered through partnerships focused around implementing recovery plans for threatened and endangered species. We also took great pleasure in recognizing the contributions made over a 25-year career by Andrea Bishop, a retired Division of Natural Areas botanist who was instrumental in recovery efforts that led to the delisting of Eggert's sunflower (2005) and Tennessee purple coneflower (2014), in addition to the Cumberland sandwort. People make partnerships work, and the Service presented Andrea with a Southeast Region Recovery Champion Award to recognize her contributions to the recovery of these three species and conservation of countless other rare plant species.

Watch this video highlighting the day from the Tennessee Department of of Environment and Conservation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuhY4ArANn0

Get Involved

Sequatchie caddisfly monitoring in Tennessee
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As a small office with a large work area, partnering with others is a foundation of our work - whether it be funding research, coordinating on-the-ground conservation efforts, or shepherding the next generation of conservation leaders. There may be opportunities for you to get involved conserving some of the rarest species and special habitats in Tennessee, either with us, or with one of our myriad partners.

For more information on volunteering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visit our national volunteer webpage.  

Location and Contact Information