Maryville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has appointed 19 individuals to a new advisory group tasked with ensuring the long-term health of the Duck River, a vital waterway that serves as the sole water source for over 250,000 residents. The Duck River, which stretches across 269 miles, is the longest river in Tennessee and boasts the largest variety of living organisms of any freshwater river in North America.
The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, created through an executive order in November, will focus on identifying sustainable solutions to balance the river’s environmental preservation with the growing demands for water usage in the fast-developing region. The river’s ecological importance and its role as a critical water source for an expanding population have made it a focal point for conservation groups and utilities alike.
Governor Lee’s initiative follows the increasing pressures placed on the river due to prolonged drought conditions and the rising demand for water from local utilities. Environmental groups, concerned about the health of the river, have lobbied for greater conservation efforts, fearing the impact of overuse. Meanwhile, utilities are seeking to extract millions of additional gallons to meet the needs of the state’s growing population.
To address these competing interests, the advisory group will include a diverse array of stakeholders, including state and local officials, representatives from utilities, and leaders from conservation organizations. Among the appointees are members of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the state agency responsible for overseeing water withdrawals, and the president of a Columbia utility. These individuals bring expertise from both the environmental and utility sectors, with some having recently reached settlements in legal challenges involving state-issued water withdrawal permits.
In addition to these groups, the advisory panel includes key political figures such as Senator Joey Hensley, a Republican from Hohenwald, and Representative Scott Cepicky, also a Republican, who played pivotal roles in securing the 2023 designation of a section of the Duck River as a Class II scenic waterway. This designation, which restricts landfills and certain types of land use within two miles of the river, was a significant victory for conservationists and local communities concerned about development near the river.
The core responsibility of the partnership will be to create recommendations for managing the watershed in a way that balances economic development with the preservation of the river’s ecological health. This includes developing policies that promote sustainable water use and exploring opportunities for regional water system collaborations, all while minimizing water loss.
A significant aspect of the group’s work will be to guide the creation of a statewide water conservation plan and a specific strategy for the Duck River, for which Governor Lee has proposed a $100 million budget in the upcoming fiscal year.
State regulatory agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), which issues permits for water withdrawals, will work closely with the partnership. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will also collaborate to identify additional priority watersheds across the state that may face similar challenges.
As Tennessee’s population continues to grow, the Duck River will remain a critical resource. With the establishment of this advisory group, Governor Lee hopes to ensure that both the environmental health of the river and the water needs of the people it serves are adequately addressed in the years to come.
