Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday said 19 people from the Duck River Advisory Group identifying ways to balance habitat conservation, drought management and utility use in what he calls “scenic treasures.” The appointees have been announced.

Lee created the Duck River Basin Planning Partnership through an executive order in November. Lee proposed $100 million in future budgets for creating a statewide water conservation plan and plans to address the Duck River in particular.

The 269-mile waterway is the longest river in Tennessee; The largest species of creatures in the freshwater river in North America. Conservation groups have been advocating for preservation for several years, but utilities seeking to serve a rapidly growing population by extracting recent drought conditions and millions of gallons of water, are the environment for river health. It raises protectionist concerns.

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

Lee Gar Lee signs orders to save Duck River, a “scenic treasure” at risk.

They represent the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the state regulatory bodies overseeing water withdrawal, and the president of Columbia’s utility. All recently reached a settlement where they challenged a legal battle issued by the state.

Sen. Joey Hensley, a Hohenwald Republican, also holds the group’s seats. Hensley and Calleka Republican Sen. Scott Sepicky decided to designate a portion of the Duck River in Morley County as a Class II scenic waterway in 2023 when businesses tried to build land on nearby land. It was a success. The designation uses landfills and other lands within two miles of the river.

This partnership is responsible for creating recommendations for basin management that balances river health and economic growth with increasing water demand.

The Duck River is the only water source for at least 250,000 Tennessees in the area experiencing rapid growth.

The partnership also provides sustainable use policy recommendations for Lee and regulatory agencies, looking for opportunities for localisation of water systems and ways to reduce water losses.

The Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation will allow utilities to withdraw water from rivers, but will work with the Tennessee Department of Wildlife Resources to identify more “priority watersheds” across the state.

Partnership members include:

• Commissioner David W. Salliers, Tennessee Department of Environmental Protection
• Deputy Commissioner Andy Holt, Tennessee Department of Agriculture
• Jimmy West, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
• Josh Campbell, Representative of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
• Amanda Tark, Representative of Tennessee Valley Authority
• Valerie McCormack, Representative of S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Dan Elbert, Representative of S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Doug Murphy, Representative of Duck River Development Agency
• Senator Joey Hensley, appointed by Lieutenant Colonel McNally
• Representative Pat Marshappointed by Speaker Sexton
• Justin Murdoch, Director of the Water Research Center at Tennessee University of Technology
• Randall Breaker, General Manager of the Duck River Utility Committee
• Jonathan Hardin, President and CEO of Columbia Power & Water Systems
• Sheila Batt, Mayor, Morley County
• Chris White, Bedford County Planning & Zoning Director
• Mark Thurman, Conservation Collaboration Director at the Nature Conservation Bureau
• Gracesto Lunch, Harpes Conservancy Executive Director
• Horace Tipton, Conservation Policy Director for the Tennessee Wildlife Federation
• George Nolan, Tennessee Office Director, Southern Environmental Law Center