Nashville District Regulatory Division
Jurisdiction - Tennessee
The Nashville District oversees regulatory authority over regions within the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins.
To confirm whether your project location falls within the Nashville District or another, visit the About Jurisdiction page.
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 in the Nashville District’s Tennessee jurisdiction must be submitted through the Regulatory Request System (RRS).
Begin Your Application in RRS
Joint Permit with TVA
If your project is located within the Tennessee River watershed or may affect TVA-managed reservoirs or infrastructure, you may also need a Section 26a permit from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
During the RRS process, the system will help determine if TVA coordination is required. Applicants should also consult the TVA website to learn about 26a requirements.
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
In addition to federal permitting, your project may require review and coordination with other state and federal agencies. These requirements will be identified during the permitting process.
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Projects within the TVA service area — particularly those affecting the Tennessee River or TVA reservoirs — may require a TVA Section 26a permit. Coordination with TVA is often a critical part of the application process.
State of Tennessee
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) – 401 Water Quality Certification and state-level environmental permits
- Tennessee Historical Commission – Section 106 consultation for historic/cultural impacts
- Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) – Reviews for fish, wildlife, and aquatic habitats
Federal Partners
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 4) – Regulatory oversight, coordination, and enforcement
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) – Hydrologic data and modeling support (as applicable)
Section 408 Review
A separate Section 408 review may be required if your project alters or impacts a Corps civil works structure. Learn more on our Section 408 Program page.
Mitigation
For unavoidable impacts to waters or wetlands, compensatory mitigation may be required. See 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