Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute

Have you ever wondered how people like John James Audubon used their artistic expertise to benefit scientists? Scientific illustration is SUPER fascinating, and to give you the lowdown on what it involves, our latest episode of The Podcast Aquatic features Joe Tomelleri, who's basically the best of the best when it comes to illustrating freshwater fish! 🎨🐟

(And yes, these images are all examples of Joe's incredible work. 🤩)

Give it a listen via this Apple Podcasts link or look for us wherever you get your podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-podcast-aquatic/id1754392239?i=1000748219918

The Podcast Aquatic is made possible by support from The Tennessee Conservationist, the official magazine of Tennessee State Parks.

For years, the endangered Laurel Dace has been hanging on by a fin in a pair of streams about an hour north of Chattanooga. Most of its struggles have been silent and solitary, but recently, a nearby town heard of its plight and rallied to protect it. In this week’s episode of The Podcast Aquatic, we find out why Spring City, Tennessee, has embraced the Laurel Dace and how their support is improving its chances for survival.

Check it out now on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! 🎙️

The Podcast Aquatic is made possible by support from The Tennessee Conservationist=, the official magazine of Tennessee State Parks.

Support Your Local Minnow Podcast Episode · The Podcast Aquatic · 01/14/2026 · 1h 7m

Before the new year arrives, we're looking back on our top four conservation moments of 2025.

1. We celebrated 25 years of reintroducing Lake Sturgeon into the Tennessee and Cumberland river watersheds. Since the year 2000, the Aquarium and our partners with the Southeast Lake Sturgeon Working Group have returned more than 435,000 of these long-absent fish into the state's waterways. That effort is paying off: the species' conservation status in the state has been downgraded from "endangered" to "threatened."

2. We returned more than 230 critically endangered Laurel Dace to their home streams on Walden Ridge. When a prolonged regional drought in 2024 threatened the extinction of one of the most endangered fish species in North America, the Aquarium leapt into action. Alongside a small group of partners, we rescued the majority of the Laurel Dace left on the planet. Months later, once the water was flowing again, we returned them to their homes. This was cause for celebration, and the Aquarium was honored as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Recovery Champions for this critical work.

3. In May, we held the inaugural Laurel Dace Day event in Spring City, Tennessee, to increase awareness of the plight of the Laurel Dace and to raise funds that will help fuel our work to safeguard the species in the future. This community sits at the foot of Walden Ridge, just a stone's throw away from the fish's native streams. Like any good neighbor, the town has rallied to support this tiny but mighty minnow living in their backyard. Attendees — many arriving from distant locations in the Southeast — gathered in Spring City to take part in a 5k race and fun run as well as a schedule of live music and a local farmer's market.

4. We surveyed for elusive (and federally threatened) Trispot Darters near Dalton, Georgia. In coordination with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, we paddled Mill Creek in canoes while collecting environmental DNA samples from tributaries entering the main stream. Using this cutting-edge approach, we're seeking to better understand how this imperiled species is distributed in our corner of the Southeast.

to our very first Lake Sturgeon release 25 years ago! We're celebrating a quarter century of Lake Sturgeon conservation and releasing 500 juveniles into the Tennessee River later today. They'll join the more than 430,000 released by the Aquarium and our partners with the Lake Sturgeon Working Group through the years.

RESCHEDULE!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will have to postpone Sunday on the Sequatchie: Meet Your River to the Spring for spawning season. While we are disheartened by the last-minute change, we look forward to rescheduling for a warmer time of the year when the fishes are all colored up!

Best Fishes,
The TNACI Team

Save your seat for the Fall Grazing School at Manderley Farms this Saturday, Sept 13th! 🧑‍🌾🐮🌾Our team of freshwater scientists will be there with representatives from the Cumberland River Compact and Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers to highlight the connections between healthy pastures and clean water. This event is ✨FREE✨ to attend and features a panel discussion with local farmers. Can't wait to see you there! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl7v0WTL_LYKmp7RfLULvoVPRW0n-vCt_q42x4TgInrbRFtQ/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawMr8HhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFPclZqYTBOalkxZU40T0U5AR6r295EwmD1YTd6JftwcIv4OYkZHHDVhV_0OX6W2rUDXehAjEI1OiOY3aMS3Q_aem_ZhYU5VQYzAJ-vohLbbCkVA

🐛🐜🦋 Happy Insect Week, y'all! 🦋🐜🐛 To celebrate, the latest episode of the Aquarium's podcast focuses in on the insects (and other spineless critters) living in our rivers, lakes and streams!

Check it out now on all major podcast platforms or via the handy link below! 🎙

Leopards Of The River And Other "Water Bugs" The Podcast Aquatic · Episode