Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership

The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership prepared and submitted an Initial Report and Recommendations (“Report”) on November 20, 2025, at the direction of Gov. Lee’s Executive Order 108, and this document reflects the work of the Partnership since it commenced in March 2025.

Partnership members used their knowledge, expertise, experience and engagement to assess the environment and evaluate opportunities to develop preliminary recommendations for consideration of Gov. Lee and legislative leaders.

This report reveals compelling ideas and potential steps identified in Partnership work groups focused on drought management; regionalization opportunities; and conservation, water loss reduction, and public education and community engagement.  Proposals from the work groups flowed to a consolidated set of eighteen (18) initial recommendations from the entire Partnership.

Recommendations are presented in groups that reflect deployment and realization in the short-term (now to two years); medium-term (three to five years); and long-term (six years and longer). Partnership recommendations demonstrate a range of strategies and actionable next steps:

  • Enhancing interagency coordination and organization to enhance planning, readiness and responsiveness in drought conditions
  • Moving expeditiously on feasibility studies and design analyses for identified priority opportunities, including organization/governance forms and engineered solutions
  • Accelerating deployment of information resources and decision support tools for leaders, citizens, and stakeholders in the region.
  • Implementing effective water loss reduction strategies and water conservation practices, including leveraging community outreach, education channels and trusted source messaging.

This report focuses on high-impact, achievable opportunities for the Duck River Watershed that will lead to deployment of thoughtful, effective solutions to conserve and protect the Duck River while ensuring adequate water supply and promoting economic growth and prosperity.  This initial report, its recommendations, and feedback from its submission will help guide the diligent work of the Partnership into 2026.

On Nov. 20, 2024, Gov. Lee issued Executive Order 108 about the Duck River – a 284-mile river flowing exclusively within Tennessee and recognized as one of the most aquatically diverse waterways in the nation. As the Duck River is also the drinking water source for more than 250,000 people in nine growing counties south of Nashville, EO 108 established the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership and provided directives for TDEC, other agencies, and partners acting in the Duck River Watershed. Gov. Lee placed particular emphasis on regional approaches to water supply and the potential of identifying solutions for the Duck River to be a model for statewide water management and other watersheds in Tennessee.

Executive Order No. 108   Press Release    Video

The Duck River Complex is a 2612-acre natural area complex in Maury County that consists of five natural areas within the 12,800-acre Yanahli Wildlife Management Area (WMA). It is managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as a WMA.
Duck River Watershed
Map showing area of Duck River Watershed in Tennessee courtesy of the Duck River Agency
Duck River Watershed
Map showing expanded area of Duck River Watershed in Tennessee, to include the Buffalo River Watershed. (map courtesy of the Duck River Watershed Association)

Workshop on Conveyance/Pipeline & Storage Alternatives
(December 12, 2025)

A workshop for Planning Partnership members was held on December 12, 2025, to review conveyance/pipeline and storage alternatives aimed at providing additional water supply capacity within the Duck River Watershed. The workshop featured analyses and a presentation by Gresham Smith Partners, followed by a Question-and-Answer discussion among partnership members regarding the proposed alternatives.

Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership Workshop on Reservoir Alternatives

Workshop on Reservoir Alternatives
(October 27, 2025)

Partnership members participated in a workshop agenda divided between “Raising Elevation of Normandy Dam” and the “Columbia Dam Concept.” The Normandy alternative focused on results of the study currently underway by Ramboll consultants for the Duck River Agency. The Columbia Dam concept portion of the workshop will be identifying the range of issues, questions and challenges that would be confronted if/when any feasibility study was conducted for the concept.

Presentations :

The Partnership shall consist of nineteen (19) members, who shall be appointed as follows:

  • The Commissioner of TDEC, or the Commissioner's designee, who shall serve as the Chair of the Partnership;
  • The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, or the Commissioner's designee;
  • The Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, or the Commissioner's designee;
  • The Executive Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, or the Executive Director's designee;
  • One (1) representative from the Tennessee Senate, appointed by the Speaker of the Senate;
  • One (1) representative from the Tennessee House of Representatives, appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives;
  • One (1) representative from the Tennessee Valley Authority ("TVA"), appointed by the President/CEO of TV A;
  • One (1) representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, appointed by the District Commander;
  • One (1) representative from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ("USFWS"), appointed by Field Supervisor for the Cookeville Field Office;
  • One (1) representative from the DRA, appointed by the Board of the DRA;
  • One (1) representative from a university or academic institution with expertise in water resource management, appointed by the Governor;
  • Two (2) representatives from different water supplier utilities in the Duck River Watershed, appointed by the Governor;
  • Two (2) representatives from different local governments within the Duck River Watershed, appointed by the Governor; and
  • Four (4) representatives from different conservation organizations active in the Duck River region, appointed by the Governor.

On February 13, 2025, Gov. Lee named the 19 members of the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership and amplified the group’s responsibilities:

  • Developing comprehensive watershed management recommendations that balance the needs of water users and economic growth against the need to protect the environmental integrity of the Duck River.
  • Advising and providing recommendations to the Governor, the Duck River Development Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and legislative leadership on policies and actions to promote the sustainable use and conservation of water resources in the Duck River Watershed.
  • Identifying opportunities for water system regionalization, drought resilience, habitat conservation, and water loss reduction.
  • Engaging with local communities, utilities, industries, and conservation organizations to ensure broad participation in watershed

Gov. Lee’s announcement of DRWPP members
 

Engagement Opportunities

In addition to soliciting public input at Partnership meetings, the Partnership launched a community survey at the Duck River Expo that was open from 7/13/2025 to 10/15/2025. The survey asked 19 questions intended to guide recommendations and strategies for a more resilient, well-managed watershed. The survey yielded 824 responses, 92.5% of which were from full-time residents across all counties in the Duck River Watershed. The Partnership gained valuable insights into the community’s priorities and concerns from this input.

The Partnership will be continuing to develop outreach, involvement and listening opportunities for residents and communities across the Duck River Watershed, including coordinating a Listening Tour where residents across the Duck River Watershed will have various opportunities in multiple forums to share their thoughts, opinions, experiences and perspectives on what is important or should be considered for water supply planning across the entire watershed.

Share Your Thoughts

The Partnership is accepting resident input and comments on the Duck River Watershed and these water supply planning activities at DuckRiver.Partnership@tn.gov . 

Funding

Gov. Lee and the Legislature demonstrated their support for this initiative in the state’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget that is effective on July 1, 2025. 

The General Assembly appropriated $90million for the Duck River in the next state budget:

  • $65 million toward implementing project activity for an effective regional water supply strategy for the Duck River Watershed
  • 24.5 million for TDEC to support regional watershed planning with funds used in three ways:
    •  to contribute to the state’s Habitat Conservation Plan,
    • to develop an integrated data/GIS network to immediately assess the impact of policies and operational changes,
    • and to contract with an engineering firm to evaluate, study, design and develop a long-term solution to the challenges that face the Duck River Watershed.

 

Meetings

Monday, May 4, 2026

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CDT

Henry Horton State Park
Duck River Room


4209 Nashville Highway, Chapel Hill, TN 37034
 

August 14 Meeting @ TN Farm Bureau Columbia Office

Agenda

August 14, 2025 Meeting Video

During the Aug. 14 meeting in Columbia, members spoke to Partnership priorities and purpose of the three (3) work groups focused on 1) Drought Management, 2) Regionalization, and 3) Conservation, Water Loss and Education.

Presentations:

Kick-Off Meeting (State Capitol March 4, 2025)

Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership Kick-Off Meeting
Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership Kick-Off Meeting on March 4, 2025

Working Groups

The Partnership will have (3) Working Groups that meet between full Partnership meetings to focus on these areas from EO108 and responsive to the Partnership direction with aim to bring information, stakeholder outreach and preliminary options back to the full Partnership for discussion and deliberation.  Working groups will assist the Partnership in identifying opportunities for:

  • water system regionalization;
  • drought resilience;
  • habitat conservation;
  • water loss reduction; and
  • engaging with local communities, utilities, industries, and conservation organizations to ensure broad participation in watershed planning efforts

Regionalization Working Group

  • Randal Braker (Chairperson)
  • Sheila Butt
  • Jonathan Hardin
  • George Nolan
  • Jimmy West
  • Chris White
  • TDEC Support: Elaine Boyd, April Grippo, & Stephanie Durman

Tennessee Duck River Development Agency Reports

 

Drought Management Working Group

  • Andy Holt
  • Valerie McCormack
  • Pat Marsh
  • Mark Thurman
  • Horace Tipton
  • Amanda Turk (Chairperson)
  • TDEC Support:  Elain Boyd, Stephanie Durman, & April Grippo

Conservation, Water Loss, Public Education & Community Engagement Working Group

  • Josh Campbell
  • Dan Elbert
  • Joey Hensley
  • Justin Murdoch
  • Doug Murphy
  • Grace Stranch (Chairperson)
  • TDEC Support:  Dillon Blankenship, Elain Boyd, Peter Murrey, Shaun Rainone, Peter Roth, & Chuck Yoest

This Page Last Updated: March 24, 2026 at 7:31 AM