The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is charged with protecting the wetlands of the state of Tennessee. The Division of Water Resources carries out this mission by requiring any activity that may alter a wetland to obtain an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP). In addition to presiding over the regulation of wetlands in the state of Tennessee, TDEC also maintains a number of technical resources, conducts educational opportunities relating to wetlands, and offers a variety of voluntary wetland protection resources.