Eastern hellbender Private Lands Biologists

Supported by the USDA's Working Lands for Wildlife Program, the CMI is working with the state offices of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy to promote eastern hellbender habitat restoration and conservation on private lands in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia by building relationships with landowners and communities in target watersheds.

Our private lands biologists (PLBs) work with partners and landowners to improve riparian area condition and overall water quality within the project waterways through conservation actions focused on reducing non-point source pollution and sedimentation. Our engineering team collaborates to design in-stream restoration and bank stabilization projects.