2024 TENNESSEE DIVISION OF NATURAL AREAS
NOTES AND UPDATES
RARE SPECIES
01 / 03
1
This model of Biodiversity Importance by NatureServe shows Tennessee is part of a region in the US that supports a high concentration of rare plants and animals.
2
At the Division of Natural Areas we monitor state and federally listed species and preserve their habitats. This monitoring data provides a scientific basis for tracking any increases or declines in rare species populations to inform conservation status and management needs.
Monitoring activities are possible thanks to collaborations with many agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the TN Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
2. The Central Basin ranks high for rare species with its cedar glade habitats and important aquatic systems like the Duck River.
3
2024 summary
- 67 rare species and over 200 location records were updated in the field.
- These updates included 27 globally rare (G1 to G3) and 11 federally listed endangered or threatened species.
- Field surveys were conducted in 36 counties.
3. The southern portion of the Cumberland Plateau appears as an important link to biodiversity with neighboring states.
Skullcap
Fruiting Large-flowered Skullcap (Scutellaria montana). Each seed head is protected inside a skull-like case.
We continued efforts to complete a population census for the large-flowered skullcap (Scutellaria montana) in the Tennessee southern Cumberland Plateau. A project funded thanks to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). In 2024, we surveyed 445 acres across 25 sites corresponding to 4 populations. We thank our partners at the USFWS, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the TN Division of Forestry, and the nonprofit TN River Gorge Trust.
Surveying in remote locations demands a heightened sense of attention to your surroundings. To find the skullcap we tune our eyes to the plant's fuzzy opaque leaves but the forest floor can be deceiving with so many other plants and camouflaged dangers. This year, following skullcap tracks led us into timber rattlesnake habitat.
Spiraea Odyssey
Every 5 years, we take on the monitoring of the federally threatened Virginia meadowsweet (Spiraea virginiana) on State lands. Together with State Park Rangers, we trekked deep into the gorges of the Cumberland Plateau, where the plant is found in flood-scoured areas on bouldery rivers (habitat pictured on the right panel). The abundance and phenology data we collected will inform the species status assessment conducted by the USFWS.
Virginia meadowsweet (Spiraea virginiana) at Fall Creek Falls State Park & Natural Area.
Ruth’s Golden Aster Expedition
Ruth’s golden aster (Pityopsis ruthii). 'Only a handful of plants are capable of growing in that extreme environment' - Adam Dattilo.
The federally endangered plant Ruth’s golden aster (Pityopsis ruthii) only lives in cracks on massive boulders at two places in the world and both sites are downstream of Tennessee Valley Authority dams. In 2024, the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas collaborated with the Tennessee Valley Authority, USWFS, U.S Forest Service, American Whitewater, and the Tennessee Valley Railroad to capture high-resolution aerial imagery of Ruth’s golden aster habitat at various flow rates along the Hiwassee and Ocoee River in Polk County, Tennessee. The goal of this project is to better understand how strategic dam releases could benefit this endangered plant, as well as various imperiled aquatic species; while providing recreational opportunities to the whitewater community.
Vegetation Ecologist Adam Dattilo prepares for the survey.
High-resolution aerial imagery obtained during the survey. On the right panel, swipe the divider to see how the boulder habitat changes with the river flow. To learn more about this project see a story published by the TVA: Flows, Drones and Trains .
Urban X Urban
Left: Larvae of Ambystoma barbouri by David Piñeros/DNA. Right: Redband darter (Etheostoma luteovinctum) by Andrew Zimmerman/ Conservation Fisheries .
Rare darter meets rare salamander in North Nashville! Back in May 2021, DNA staff zoologist David Ian Withers uncovered a population of the state-endangered streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) in a series of urbanized tributaries to Ewing Creek in North Nashville. The drainageways are bounded by a 1970’s neighborhood up top, a 1990’s business park to the east, an undeveloped Metro Nashville park, surplus quarry lands, an emerging Habitat for Humanity community, and the historically significant Parkwood Ballfields at its toe.
In 2024, the rare redband darter (Etheostoma luteovinctum) was recorded on-site by naturalist Krista Allen of Metro Parks, including males in breeding color and egg-bearing females!
The team-up between two rare species in the urban interface could not have come at a more appropriate time, as a collaboration of multiple public and private interests emerges to reenergize Parkwood and the surrounding communities. A unique opportunity to interpret these rare denizens to kids of all ages who play at Parkwood, and to promote conservation of the Ewing Creek watershed.
Dalea Hydro Model
In Tennessee, the endangered leafy prairie-clover (Dalea foliosa) is restricted to cedar glade habitats in the Central Basin — a xeric ecosystem with open canopy, shallow soils, and exposed limestone. The distribution of D. foliosa in these systems correlates with the flow of the water, next to ephemeral streams.
Thanks to funding through the US Fish & Wildlife Service we generated a water accumulation map (Figure 1) to find sites with suitable hydrology for D. foliosa on Natural Areas. The model has a 3 m 2 resolution and can guide future habitat surveys and targets for management.
1. Model showing areas of water accumulation close or next to fine-scale streams (highest suitability in yellow).
2. Using the model above we calculated 8 regions adding up to 55 acres with the highest average levels of water accumulation and thus potential areas to design a corridor that could better sustain D. foliosa populations.
FIRE SEASON 24
Prescribed burning is a management strategy the Division uses to promote certain native open habitats and suppress woody encroachment by cedars and non-native species. This is an important tool for our restoration efforts in various State Natural Areas (SNAs).
DNA Fire Operations Summary
- 11 sites including 7 State Natural Areas across TN
- ~ 776 total acres
- Countless essential volunteer hours
Dive inside DNA fire operations with this video shot at May Prairie 10.23.24 — A 163-acre prescribed burn featuring DNA staff and TN State Park Rangers braving the elements.
3.12.24 Stewardship Ecologist Robert Wayne marks a firebreak zone at Couchville Cedar Glade Natural Area.
3.20.24 A torching cedar tree during a prescribed burn at Cedars of Lebanon State Park - an Iris Fund project.
2.6.24 Stewardship Ecologist Murray Gheesling lights the interior of John & Hester Lane Cedar Glade Natural Area.
Our prescribed fire program continues to grow and successfully use fire as an ecologically appropriate land management tool. In 2024, we added a Type 6 wildland fire engine to our fleet. This specialized equipment improves our program's safety, efficiency, and professionalism.
LAND FOR CONSERVATION
01 / 06
1
SHERWOOD FOREST STATE NATURAL AREA
The new parcel addition of 126 acres (blue) provides additional habitat for the globally rare painted snake-coiled forest snail (Anguispira picta) and protects parts of the Crow Creek watershed. Note: The snail is threatened by habitat loss and by illegal poaching.
Photo credit: Alan Cressler
2
SAVAGE GULF DESIGNATED STATE NATURAL AREA & STATE PARK
An additional parcel of 137 acres grows Savage Gulf State Natural Area & State Park, squares off a boundary, and protects the Collins River watershed.
3
BARNETT'S WOODS DESIGNATED STATE NATURAL AREA
This project expands Barnett's Woods and jumpstarts a 400-acre grassland restoration project — a collaboration between the Division of Natural Areas, Tennessee Wildlife Federation , and Southeastern Grasslands Institute.
Photo: Thomas G. Barnes/ TN Herbarium
4
COUCHVILLE CEDAR GLADE STATE NATURAL AREA
These two parcels at Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area add a buffer, square off a boundary, and protect populations of western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) and limestone fameflower (Phemeranthus calcaricus).
Photo: Todd Crabtree
5
CEDARS COMPLEX
TDEC was awarded a Recovery Land Acquisition grant from the USFWS to add a 176-acre tract for the recovery of the federally endangered leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa) and Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). This addition supports globally rare limestone glade and barren habitats - including the headwaters of a stream that flows through Cedars of Lebanon State Forest.
6
59 STATE PARKS IN TENNESSEE!
North Chickamauga Creek State Natural Area became the 59th State Park in Tennessee — North Chick now has its own Park Rangers! Many local officials, community members, and legislators attended to celebrate the dedication.
STEWARDSHIP
DNA collaborated with amazing partners to target invasive species and restore native habitats across the state
833 acres treated for restoration goals in TN
Featured projects
In partnership with the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, DNA continued habitat restoration efforts at Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area within the Percy Priest Wildlife Management Area in Rutherford County. For a second consecutive year, the NWTF’s Superfund program provided funding to benefit wild turkey management, habitat, and hunting access. Work consisted of selective canopy thinning, prescribed fire, invasive plant management, and more than 10,000 feet of new and improved access within the site. This is a unique opportunity to restore and expand barrens habitat.
Two sites at Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area: On the left, a 2023 site showing the restoration of the barrens plant community after management. On the right, a site undergoing an earlier stage of the same treatment, forestry mulching and prescribed fire.
Collaboration between public and private partners can drive meaningful conservation outcomes: working with private landowners through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partnership Program , USFWS connected private lands with the Duck River State Natural Area to improve habitat for rare and endangered cedar glade species, including the federally protected leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa).
Grounded Land Solutions contributed to restoration efforts across both private properties and the neighboring Natural Area, using forestry mulching to open up the landscape and bring more sunlight to the ground. This critical groundwork clears the way for the coming steps in the restoration process.
Next, we’ll target invasive plants and apply prescribed fire to further enhance and expand the glade habitat.
Left: mulched zone at eye level; right: aerial imagery showing the expanded area (light-green) for the current glade habitat.
90°F Hot and tedious work! DNA Stewardship Ecologists Luke Mahrenholz and Allan Trently treat invasive Lespedeza cuneata next to endangered leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa) at the Duck River Complex Natural Area. Due to the proximity to rare plants, Allan uses a special foam applicator to carefully apply herbicide to individual Lespedeza stems, ensuring the surrounding plants remain unaffected.
Gnarly 520’
Park manager Anthony D. Jones showcases techniques for trail building to the crew.
For two days, a crew from the TN Department of Environment and Conservation including members of DNA and the Division of Archeology collaborated with State Park Rangers to build a new 520 foot segment of the Cumberland Trail over the enigmatic Head of the Sequatchie River.
Volunteer Punch
DNA appreciates the volunteer groups who help us manage state natural areas and monitor rare species. Here, a group is assisting with monitoring of the federally listed white fringeless orchid (Platanthera integrilabia) on the Cumberland Plateau.
Click arrow to the right to continue
BWB 2024
DNA members attended the Biodiversity Without Boundaries conference in Seattle, Washington, where Heritage Programs across the US working together with NatureServe got to share their experiences and successes in conservation. In the photo we joined a vegetation mapping workshop with Joe Rocchio, program manager of the Washington Natural Heritage Program .
OUTREACH
New State Naturalist!
Roger has been with TDEC for 25 years in a variety of roles advancing conservation of native plants and native habitats through the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas . If you've ever been on a guided hike with him, you know that he's also a gifted storyteller and his natural passion for Tennessee's outdoor places is genuine and contagious.
We celebrate Tennessee's newest State Naturalist: Roger McCoy, TDEC Director of Conservation.
State Naturalist is a special, honorary title given by the Department to recognize a staff member's unique experience, expertise, and commitment to Tennessee's natural environment. Tennessee's State Naturalist is someone who inspires others to learn about, enjoy, and protect Tennessee's rich natural heritage.
Division of Natural Areas staff craft unique, educational, and fun outdoor activities for the public every year.
- 67 events held in 2024
- 35 sites across TN
- 979 participants
We thank everyone who has supported our mission by participating in a past event and encourage you to join us on some of our Tennessee adventures in 2025.
