The tennessee wildlife resources agency proposes to restore function to several wetland habitat areas associated with the black bayou refuges phillipy unit located west of reelfoot lake in tiptonville…

The Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI/FWS) awarded the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) a formula grant totaling $640,000 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611). Awarded on July 9, 2025, with a completion deadline of September 30, 2026, this grant supports the restoration of wetland habitat functionality across multiple areas within the Black Bayou Refuges Phillippy Unit located west of Reelfoot Lake in Tiptonville, Lake County, Tennessee.

Under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act framework, this award enables TWRA to implement habitat restoration and improvement activities that enhance wildlife conservation and management capabilities. The project directly supports the program's core mission of restoring, conserving, managing, and enhancing wild birds and mammals and their associated habitats. As a state wildlife agency with established management authority and compliant legislative requirements dedicated to fish and wildlife conservation, TWRA is an eligible participant in this formula grant program, which distributes federal funding to state agencies based on established allocation methodologies.

The tennessee wildlife resources agency proposes to restore function to several wetland habitat areas associated with the black bayou refuges phillipy unit located west of reelfoot lake in tiptonville lake county tennessee.