Tennessee Gov. names mix of officials, utilities and conservationists to Duck River advisory group

by Cassandra Stephenson, Tennessee Lookout
February 14, 2025

Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday announced 19 appointees to a Duck River advisory group that will identify ways to balance habitat preservation, drought management and utility uses on the river he calls a “scenic treasure.”

Lee created the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership through an executive order in November. Lee proposed $100 million in the upcoming budget for the creation of a statewide water conservation plan and a plan specifically addressing the Duck River.

The 269-mile waterway is the longest river in Tennessee and hosts the largest variety of living organisms of any freshwater river in North America. While conservation groups have advocated for its preservation for several years, recent drought conditions and utilities seeking to extract millions more gallons of water to serve the fast-growing population have heightened environmentalists’ concern for the river’s health.

Lee’s list of appointees includes state and local officials, utility representatives and the leaders of several conservation groups.

Gov. Lee signs order to conserve Duck River, a ‘scenic treasure’ at risk

Among them are representatives from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the state regulatory agency that oversees water withdrawals and the president of a Columbia utility — all of whom recently reached settlements in legal battles challenging permits issued by the state.

Sen. Joey Hensley, a Hohenwald Republican, also holds a seat in the group. Hensley and Culleoka Republican Rep. Scott Cepicky successfully pushed to designate a portion of the Duck River in Maury County as a Class II scenic waterway in 2023 when a company sought to create landfills on nearby land. The designation bars landfills and some other land uses within two miles from the river.

The partnership is responsible for crafting watershed management recommendations that balance the river’s health with economic growth and the growing demand for water.

The Duck River is the sole water source for at least 250,000 Tennesseans in a region that is experiencing rapid growth.

The partnership will also provide sustainable use policy recommendations to Lee and regulatory agencies, while looking for water system regionalization opportunities and ways to reduce water loss.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which issues permits to utilities withdrawing water from the river, will also work with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to identify more “priority watersheds” throughout the state.

The partnership’s members include:

Commissioner David W. Salyers, Tennessee Department of Environment & ConservationDeputy Commissioner Andy Holt, Tennessee Department of AgricultureJimmy West, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community DevelopmentJosh Campbell, Representative of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyAmanda Turk, Representative of the Tennessee Valley AuthorityValerie McCormack, Representative of the S. Army Corps of EngineersDan Elbert, Representative of the S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDoug Murphy, Representative of the Duck River Development AgencySenator Joey Hensley, appointed by Lt. Governor McNallyRepresentative Pat Marsh, appointed by Speaker SextonJustin Murdock, Director, Water Research Center, Tennessee Technological UniversityRandall Braker, General Manager, Duck River Utility CommissionJonathan Hardin, President & CEO, Columbia Power & Water SystemSheila Butt, Mayor, Maury CountyChris White, Director, Planning & Zoning, Bedford CountyMark Thurman, Director of Conservation Collaboration, The Nature ConservancyGrace Stranch, Executive Director, Harpeth ConservancyHorace Tipton, Director of Conservation Policy, TN Wildlife FederationGeorge Nolan, Director, Tennessee Office, Southern Environmental Law Center

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