775 Haywood Road, Suite A
Asheville, NC 28806
AL, AR, GA, KY, NC, MS, SC, TN
The parks of the Southeast abound with superlatives. Here you can find the world's longest cave system (Mammoth Cave National Park) and the most visited national park in the country (Great Smoky Mountains National Park). Touring the parks will expose you to Southern Appalachia, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world, while also introducing you to this continent's tragic and triumphant history from Native American heritage, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement, and beyond. In a landscape long settled by people, NPCA's Southeast team works to protect the amazing resources of this region's national parks while striving to connect this area's stories and landscapes.
The Southeast staff have won significant, long-fought victories – advocating for 7 years to remove a large Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) from the Buffalo National River’s watershed; working for 6 years, across four congresses, to pass legislation to expand and re-designate the Ocmulgee National Monument as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and fighting for over a decade for a settlement agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, resulting in the largest cleanup and retirement of coal-fired power plant units in U.S. history. Read NPCA’s Southeast History Of Impact (PDF).
Southeast Regional Office Field Reports
These field reports provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest to our members and supporters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
See more ›Building on these successes, current priorities include protecting Cumberland Island National Seashore from a commercial spaceport; exploring sea level rise impacts on our coastal parks and barrier islands; organizing dozens of stakeholders across two states to research and build wildlife connectivity solutions – Safe Passage – to reduce animal-vehicle collisions in the I-40 Pigeon River Gorge corridor adjacent to the Smokies; establishing the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area in 19 counties across the state that contain an abundance of natural resources, historical sites, cultural diversity and recreational activities valued by residents and sought by visitors.
Join the Southeast in this rewarding work to protect this region’s unique parks.
Parks and Climate Change
Harsher storms and sea level rise have brought flooding to coastal parks and preserves. NPCA works to bring emergency funding to restore historic and cultural resources and visitor services and advocate for long term adaptation and mitigation solutions. (Photo of Fort Pulaski after Hurricane Irma by NPS)
Field Offices in the Southeast Region
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Asheville Field Office
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- Address:
- 775 Haywood Dr., Suite A, Asheville, North Carolina 28806
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More about the Southeast region
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Read more about No More Hogwash in Buffalo National River
Victory No More Hogwash in Buffalo National River The state of Arkansas is closing an industrial hog farm and will prohibit future large-scale confined animal feeding operations in this protected watershed.
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Read more about Commercial Spaceports Could Threaten Canaveral and Cumberland Island
NPCA at Work Commercial Spaceports Could Threaten Canaveral and Cumberland Island The commercial space industry is an exciting and growing field. But the race for space should not put our national seashores at risk.
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Read more about Congress Fails the Public: Why NPCA Will Continue to Defend Clean, Safe National Park Waters
NPCA at Work Congress Fails the Public: Why NPCA Will Continue to Defend Clean, Safe National Park Waters In February 2017, Congress voted to dismantle the Stream Protection Rule, which would have safeguarded streams from pollution created by mountaintop removal and surface coal mining.
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Read more about Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Will Preserve Pivotal Sites from America’s Civil Rights History
Victory Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Will Preserve Pivotal Sites from America’s Civil Rights History In the 1960s, Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most segregated places in the United States. Nonviolent protesters suffered brutal mistreatment in the struggle for equality and ultimately changed the course of history. Now, a new national monument will help preserve and interpret this critical chapter in the civil rights movement.
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now, I work at Yosemite National Park! My appreciation for parks of greatly increased since starting to work and protect them. — Moses
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Read more about Ozone Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet Ozone Fact Sheet Ozone threatens the health of park visitors and contributes to the disease and death of park species such as the black cherry tree in the East and aspen and ponderosa pine in the West. National park ecosystems across the country are already showing damage from ground-level ozone pollution.
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Read more about 8 Park Bills Congress Should Pass
Blog Post 8 Park Bills Congress Should Pass EDITOR’S NOTE: Five of these bills received congressional approval on Dec. 23, 2022, at the end of the 117th Congress. Read below for updates. NPCA is pushing to get national park bills through Congress this year. Here’s a list of some of the bills that have received bipartisan support — and we hope can get across the finish line.
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Read more about Lawsuit Challenges Army Corps Decision Imperiling Wetlands Near Okefenokee Swamp
Press Release Lawsuit Challenges Army Corps Decision Imperiling Wetlands Near Okefenokee Swamp Agency's unlawful reversal leaves nearly 600 acres of wetlands without federal protections.
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Read more about What Does Veterans Day Mean to You?
Blog Post What Does Veterans Day Mean to You? We asked members of NPCA’s Veterans Council and veteran staff members to share their thoughts on this special day and the role national parks play in telling the story of veteran history.
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Read more about Reflections on the Clean Water Act
Blog Post Reflections on the Clean Water Act 50 years after the Clean Water Act brought the Cuyahoga River back to life, an NPCA staffer looks back on the progress made — and what still needs to be done — to ensure clean water in national parks.
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Read more about Building Resiliency Against Disasters
Blog Post Building Resiliency Against Disasters Hurricanes and other disasters are harming our parks. NPCA is advocating for more resources to help staff prepare before emergencies strike.
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Read more about Great Smokies Superintendent Receives Award for Hikes for Healing Program
Press Release Great Smokies Superintendent Receives Award for Hikes for Healing Program In the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black Americans in 2020, Superintendent Cassius Cash created the Smokies Hikes for Healing program.
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Read more about FAQs: A National Park Site for Emmett Till
Blog Post FAQs: A National Park Site for Emmett Till NPCA and its partners have advocated for years for the establishment of a national park site to honor Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Chicago native murdered in Mississippi, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, who became a civil rights icon after his death. Read frequently asked questions about the possible site and why it is important.
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Read more about The Supreme Court Case that Threatens Our Waters
Blog Post The Supreme Court Case that Threatens Our Waters 5 things you should know about the legal fight over the Clean Water Act
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Read more about Collapsing Homes Threaten One of Our Most Popular National Seashores
Blog Post Collapsing Homes Threaten One of Our Most Popular National Seashores Coastal erosion is destroying beachfront houses near Cape Hatteras, creating dangerous debris and compounding problems for park staff.
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Read more about 'First, Tell the Truth'
Magazine Article 'First, Tell the Truth' Once one of the largest slave markets in the South, Forks of the Road is now part of the National Park System. Is Natchez ready to excavate its troubled past?
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Read more about Research Results and Mitigation Strategies
Report Research Results and Mitigation Strategies to Improve Wildlife Connectivity and Human Safety along I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge
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Read more about Park for Till: Standing in Places
Video Park for Till: Standing in Places The tragic murder of Emmett Till and the strength and resolve of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, catalyzed the modern civil rights movement. A national park site will honor their legacy and ensure that their story is never forgotten.
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Read more about Southeast Region Associate Director & NPS Diversity Lead
Staff Eboni Preston Goddard, PhD Led by a call to action, Eboni is a management professional with a background in non-profit administration, program operations, partnerships, and workforce development.
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Read more about Proposed Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area
Fact Sheet Proposed Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Where the stories are as rich as the land
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about Civil Rights Era Fellow
Staff Joshua Jenkins Joshua Jenkins is coming from our NPCA Northwest office to join the Southeast team and will be based in Birmingham, working in Alabama and Mississippi. He’ll be supporting new park campaigns and heritage areas, building deeper connections focusing on the links between parks and community needs/desires.
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Read more about Conservation Biologist
Staff Steven Goodman As our Volgenau Wildlife Fellow, Steve ably lead our wildlife connectivity field research in the Pigeon River Gorge from 2018-2021 and we’re so happy to have him now on the Southeast team permanently.
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Read more about Southeast Regional Office Field Reports
Report Southeast Regional Office Field Reports These field reports provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest to our members and supporters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
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Read more about Senior Communications Manager
Staff and Media Personnel Kyle Groetzinger Kyle Groetzinger joined NPCA in June 2019 and serves as Senior Communications Manager. He leads communications strategy and media outreach efforts for the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Sun Coast, and Texas regions, along with the organization’s cultural resources and future parks teams.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about A Legacy Threatened
Report A Legacy Threatened NPCA's photo book shows the damage to parks caused by the 2017 hurricanes.
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Read more about Diamond in the Rough
Report Diamond in the Rough An Economic Analysis of the Proposed Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve
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Read more about Southern Appalachian Director, Southeast
Staff Jeffrey Hunter Jeff Hunter is a senior program manager with National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in Asheville, NC where he works on issues related to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
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Read more about Outreach and Engagement Manager
Staff Tracy Kramer Tracy is proud to work for NPCA because “What’s good for our national parks is good for the people, the land, our shared history and most importantly – our shared future. Leaving our national treasures unimpaired for future generations is important work and I’m excited to be a part of it."
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Read more about Campaign Director
Staff Chris Watson A Campaign Director in the Southeast region, Chris Watson works on landscape connectivity, beyond boundary protection, future parks/park expansions, urban parks and wildlands, and Native American cultural connectedness to the parks.
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Read more about Senior Advisor
Staff Don Barger Don founded the Southeast Regional Office in 1992, and currently serves as an advisor — visiting, loving, and fighting to protect the special parks of this region.
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Read more about Southeast Regional Director
Staff Emily Jones Emily’s work as Southeast Regional Director revolves around building momentum within local communities and garnering congressional support to ensure our national parks become a national priority.
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Read more about Judgment on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation at Buffalo National River
Report Judgment on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation at Buffalo National River Judgment on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation at Buffalo National River
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Read more about Vicksburg National Military Park Expansion
Report Vicksburg National Military Park Expansion NPCA has advocated for an addition to Vicksburg to the national park site for three years.
Explore Our Parks
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A–H
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park ›
- Andersonville National Historic Site ›
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Site ›
- Arkansas Post National Memorial ›
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area ›
- Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument ›
- Blue Ridge Parkway ›
- Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site ›
- Buffalo National River ›
- Camp Nelson National Monument ›
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore ›
- Cape Lookout National Seashore ›
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site ›
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site ›
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area ›
- Chickamauga And Chattanooga National Military Park ›
- Congaree National Park ›
- Cowpens National Battlefield ›
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park ›
- Cumberland Island National Seashore ›
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield ›
- Fort Frederica National Monument ›
- Fort Pulaski National Monument ›
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site ›
- Fort Smith National Historic Site ›
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park ›
- Freedom Riders National Monument ›
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park ›
- Guilford Courthouse National Military Park ›
- Horseshoe Bend National Military Park ›
- Hot Springs National Park ›
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I-O
- Jimmy Carter National Historical Park ›
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park ›
- Kings Mountain National Military Park ›
- Little River Canyon National Preserve ›
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site ›
- Mammoth Cave National Park ›
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park ›
- Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument ›
- Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument ›
- Moores Creek National Battlefield ›
- Natchez National Historical Park ›
- Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail ›
- Natchez Trace Parkway ›
- Ninety Six National Historic Site ›
- Obed Wild & Scenic River ›
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park ›
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail ›
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P-Z
- Pea Ridge National Military Park ›
- President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site ›
- Reconstruction Era National Historical Park ›
- Russell Cave National Monument ›
- Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail ›
- Shiloh National Military Park ›
- Stones River National Battlefield ›
- Trail of Tears National Historic Trail ›
- Tupelo National Battlefield ›
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site ›
- Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site ›
- Vicksburg National Military Park ›
- Wright Brothers National Memorial ›
Preserve Our Parks
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