FAQs
General FAQ
What is the TSMP?
The TSMP is a product of the Interagency Review Team (IRT) which is a committee composed of resource managers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Through this program, applicants for 401/404 Water Quality Certifications or Aquatic Resource Alteration Permits (ARAP) have the option to pay a fee to the TSMP to provide required compensatory stream mitigation.
When was the TSMP created?
The TSMP was established in 2002 by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the USACE, TDEC, EPA, TVA, USFWS and TWRA. The TSMP is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (TWRF) which is a fully qualified 501(c)3 non profit.
What kind of projects is the TSMP interested in?
The TSMP is interested in degraded streams across the state that are in need of restoration and/or enhancement. These streams may be degraded due to previous alterations to the stream itself or its riparian buffer. Examples of degraded streams may include those with actively eroding banks, streams that were previously channelized to facilitate drainage and abate flooding, riparian buffers along streams that were previously converted to agricultural land and streams that have unrestricted livestock access.
Is there a minimum length of stream required to participate in the TSMP?
No, there is not a minimum length required, however it is the intent of this program to provide mitigation that has a substantial impact on overall water quality. In many cases, if an individual landowner only has a few hundred feet of stream on their property, it is possible to add additional landowners both up and down stream so that the TSMP can provide larger scale meaningful mitigation.
Landowner FAQ
Does granting a Conservation Easement open my property up to the public?
No. The only access required in the Conservation Easement will be for the TSMP to perform annual monitoring of the site and quarterly visual inspections. You retain all control of your land.
Who is responsible for maintaining any livestock exclusion fencing after the project is completed?
The landowner is responsible for routine maintenance, including the removal of fallen limbs or damages incurred from livestock or farming practices.
How much does it cost for landowners to participate in the TSMP?
There is no cost to the landowner. The TSMP pays for 100% of the project. All costs associated with the design, construction and 3 to 5 years of monitoring are paid for by the TSMP.
How do I contact the TSMP to find out if my property is a potential candidate for restoration?
Please visit our Contact page and complete the form. A TSMP Project Manager will contact you for more information.
What is a Conservation Easement?
A Conservation Easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a conservation organization that limits a portion of the lands uses. Landowners still retain ownership of the land granted in the Conservation Easement.
Is a Conservation Easement required?
Yes. A Conservation Easement is required by the TSMP for all mitigation work performed.
Why is a Conservation Easement required?
A Conservation Easement is required to ensure that any work performed by the TSMP is protected from future alteration. The purpose for performing the type of work we do is to offset physical alteration impacts that were previously authorized under permit by TDEC and/or USACE.
When I grant a Conservation Easement, does it mean I am giving up the title to my land?
Not at all. Granting a Conservation Easement only limits some uses of the land contained within the agreement. The agreement typically extends between 50 and 100 linear feet from the top of bank on both sides of the stream. Within this buffer area, only activities that may reduce or impair the functionality of the structures or vegetation that the TSMP installs are prohibited. An example would be the removal of fencing that the TSMP installed for livestock exclusion or the removal of trees planted to aid in the reduction of bank erosion.
Does a Conservation Easement apply to all of my property?
No. The Conservation Easement only contains the stream and the 50 to 100 foot buffer from each top of bank.
What if I want to sell my land or leave it to another person in my will?
The Conservation Easement runs in perpetuity and follows the land from owner to owner via the deed. The Conservation Easement does not prohibit the selling or willing of the land.
Environmental and Watershed Groups FAQ
Does the TSMP provide grants for environmental or watershed groups?
No. The TSMP was created to offset physical alterations which are regulated by both federal and state agencies. As such, the TSMP must use its funds solely for providing meaningful compensatory mitigation.
Can we partner with the TSMP on projects within our watershed?
Yes. The TSMP wants to work closely with local watershed groups and agencies to provide the most effective mitigation possible and because of the established relationships that many local groups and agencies already have with landowners. The TSMP can not, however, provide local watershed groups with funding. The TSMP views partnering as an opportunity for the local watershed group to help fulfill their objectives by working with the TSMP to improve the overall water quality and/or habitat along the stream and riparian corridor within their respective watershed.
What can environmental or watershed groups do to help the TSMP?
Local groups can help inform the local community about opportunities that exist with our program for things such as bank stabilization, riparian restoration and livestock exclusion.
Can a TSMP project include multiple landowners?
Yes. Generally, however, these landowners must be adjoining landowners to create one larger contiguous restoration project.
Can the TSMP partner with other organizations working at the same site?
Yes. However, the funding and measurable area of the TSMP's work must remain separate in order to work within the federal framework for in-lieu fee programs such as the TSMP.