SELC applauds Governor Lee’s efforts to protect Tennessee’s Duck River

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Wednesday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order that aims to protect the Duck River, an iconic waterway that is threatened by overdevelopment and more frequent, severe droughts. The river was listed as one of America’s most endangered rivers earlier this year.

Among other things, the order establishes the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, which will develop water management recommendations, identify drought management opportunities, and engage with local communities and stakeholders. The Partnership is directed to balance water resource management, environmental conservation, and economic growth.

“Today’s executive order sets the stage for commonsense safeguards and is a first step toward ensuring that the Duck River is better protected from intensifying development pressures and changing weather patterns,” George Nolan, Director of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Tennessee office, said. “Tennesseans should be immensely proud to have this one-of-a-kind river in their backyards, and we are thankful that Governor Lee is working on ways to protect it.”

The executive order comes as local water utilities are seeking to dramatically increase the amount of water pulled from the Duck River and as recent droughts have taken a toll on the waterway, which is one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world. This summer’s extreme drought conditions caused flows in the Duck River to reach record lows, imperiling aquatic wildlife and the health of the river itself.

“Along with its natural beauty and incredible wealth of wildlife, the Duck River is the backbone of local economies throughout Middle Tennessee. While there is still much work to be done, this order gets us closer to ensuring that both the river and nearby communities can continue to thrive for years to come,” Nolan said.

The Governor’s executive order follows years of advocacy and legal action from the Southern Environmental Law Center and its partners, including The Nature Conservancy, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and the Harpeth Conservancy.