Recommendations by the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership: Cause for Cautious Optimism

The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership ("DRWPP") was created by an Executive Order from Governor Lee on November 20, 2024. The DRWPP is a diverse group of stakeholders (federal, state and local government officials, water utility representatives and conservation groups) charged with the responsibility of developing recommendations for actions to protect and preserve the Duck River. It has been encouraging that the Duck River is getting high-level recognition as an ecological treasurer of biodiversity that deserves protection.

The DRWPP released its recommendations on November 20, 2025: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/water/duck-river-watershed-planning-partnership/drwpp_initial-report-11-20-2025.pdf.

The report includes several broad recommendations for protection of the river. A good summary of the report can be found here:   https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/02/tennessee-river-pipeline-study-among-duck-river-advisory-groups-recommendations/ 

While the report is encouraging, it remains to be seen how the recommendations will be transformed into action.  The Duck River Conservancy  ("DRC") is particularly focused on two aspects of the recommendations, which we believe are of critical importance. Given the ever-increasing use of the Duck River as a source of water for residential and commercial use, it is imperative that the recommendation for a Regional Drought Management Plan be implemented as soon as possible.  The plan should include comprehensive and publicly-accessible monitoring of river levels and the amount of utility withdrawals. The plan must also include mandatory reduction of withdrawals from the river in periods of low flows, when the health of sensitive aquatic life is threatened. North Carolina has developed a model for protecting ecological flows of rivers, and Tennessee should consider adopting a similar model for the Duck River.

A Regional Drought Management Plan is needed to protect the river until alternatives to water withdrawal can be developed, which is the second critically important aspect of the DRWPP recommendations. Alternatives mentioned in the report include evaluation of the feasibility of a pipeline to the Tennessee River, implementation of water re-use technologies and use of off-site water storage (ponds, small lakes, abandoned quarries) during periods of high water. Population growth and industrial development in the Duck River valley is relentless. The Duck River, in the long term, is not a sustainable source of water for the growth that lies ahead. All alternatives should be evaluated as soon as possible with clear action plans and timelines for implementation for those that are feasible.

The DRC will monitor the actions taken in response to the DRPP recommendations, and updates will be posted on our website. Thank you for your interest in the work of the DRC.