Nashville District Regulatory Division
Jurisdiction – Alabama
For details on jurisdictional boundaries and waters of the United States (WOTUS), visit About Jurisdiction.
The Nashville District Corps of Engineers exercises regulatory jurisdiction over the entire Cumberland River and portions of the Tennessee River watershed areas. A complete list of all streams subject to Corps regulatory authority is not available. However, listed below are all navigable waters of the United States over which the Nashville District currently exercises regulatory jurisdiction under the authority of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Inquiries concerning Department of the Army Permit requirements on tributary streams not listed below should be submitted on a case-by case basis to the Regulatory Branch. Regulatory jurisdiction for the portions of the Tennessee River watershed in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia is administered by the Norfolk, Wilmington, and Savannah Corps Districts, respectively.
Cumberland River and Tributaries
Tennessee River and Tributaries
Conasauga River (The Conasauga River in Polk County, Tennessee, is considered navigable entirely within the state of Tennessee.)
Apply
All Department of the Army permit applications for work in the Nashville District’s Alabama jurisdiction must be submitted using the Regulatory Request System (RRS).
Begin Permit Application in RRS
Before You Apply
Not all work in or near water requires a permit. Use the RRS to determine whether a permit is needed, initiate pre-application discussions, and access relevant forms and guidance.
What You'll Need
- Project purpose and detailed description
- Maps and site drawings (plan view, cross-section)
- Wetland delineation and photos (if applicable)
- Avoidance and minimization narrative (if applicable)
Unable to use RRS?
Send all required information to NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil. You may send us files too large for email, up to 8 GB in size, through the DoD SAFE (Secure Access File Exchange) site at https://safe.apps.mil/. Send us an email at NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil to request an access code to use the DoD SAFE site for each set of documents you would like to send us. Include "drop-off request" in the subject line of the email. Do not send paper copies of documents sent to us electronically.
The RRS (Regulatory Request System) is the centralized source for all USACE-issued public notices nationwide.
View instructions to pay individual permit fees online. If you do not want to pay online; checks are still an option for your convenience! Please verify with your regulatory project manager whether a
Coordination Requirements
Some projects require coordination with other federal, state, or local agencies before a permit can be issued. The need for coordination depends on your project’s location, size, and possible environmental impacts.
Water Quality Certification (Section 401)
If your project will place fill or dredged material into waters of the United States, you may need a Section 401 Water Quality Certification from your state.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
If your project could affect endangered species or their habitats, you must coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Historic Properties (NHPA Section 106)
We review potential impacts on historic properties with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and, if needed, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs).
Section 408 Review
If a project could alter or affect a Corps-constructed civil works project—such as levees, dams, or navigation channels—a separate review and authorization under Section 408 may be required. Learn more on the Section 408 Program page.
Mitigation
If impacts to aquatic resources cannot be avoided or minimized, compensatory mitigation may be required. For guidance, visit the About Mitigation page.
Mitigation Guidance
Below are tools and templates to help with mitigation planning and documentation.
Acronyms are defined on first use.
Mitigation Fact Sheets
2008 Mitigation Rule Timeline
Financial Assurances
Long-Term Management
Site Protection
Watershed Approach
Contact
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Nashville District, Regulatory Division
3701 Bell Road
Nashville, TN 37214-2660
(615) 369‑7500
Leave a detailed voicemail; we aim to respond promptly.
NashvilleRegulatory@usace.army.mil
Field Offices
Eastern Regulatory Field Office
501 Adesa Blvd Suite 250
Lenoir City, TN 37771
Office: (865) 986-7296
Chattanooga Regulatory Field Office
2158 Northgate Park Lane
Northgate Park II, Suite 216
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37415
Office: (615) 801-3601
Western Regulatory Field Office
2424 Danville Rd SW Ste N
Decatur, AL 35601
Office: (256) 350-5620