Moist-soil habitat provides food and cover for a wide variety of waterfowl and other migratory birds.

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge has an active cooperative farming program for the primary purpose of providing food and other needed habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife. 

Prior to Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge's establishment, most of the forest lands had been altered by Euroamerican settlement for well over 100 years. Since then the refuge has improved forest conditions according to a Forest Management Plan.

A water management program is managed for 23 impoundments on the refuge. The primary purpose for managing the water levels within these impoundments is to enhance food production and make it available to waterfowl during migration and wintering periods.

In addition to the managed habitat listed above there are several naturally occurring habitats that are extremely important to many species of wetland wildlife. The primary role the refuge plays associated with these habitats is protections.