Tennessee River pipeline study among Duck River advisory group’s recommendations

An advisory group appointed by Gov. Bill Lee has released its first set of recommendations for conservation of the Duck River. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

An advisory group tasked with identifying ways to balance conservation and water needs on a treasured Tennessee river issued its first recommendations to Gov. Bill Lee on Nov. 20, a year after Lee issued an executive order prioritizing the river’s protection.

The 269-mile Duck River is known for its biodiversity, hosting the largest variety of living organisms of any freshwater river in North America. But the scenic river is also under increasing pressure as Middle Tennessee’s population growth ratchets up demand for water and drought conditions lead to low flows. 

The proposed measures include implementing drought preparedness initiatives and regulations, analyzing the feasibility of a pipeline bringing water from the Tennessee River to Middle Tennessee, and raising winter water levels in the Normandy Dam, a reservoir that allows the Tennessee Valley Authority to regulate water flows on the Duck.

Lee created the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership — a 19-member advisory group made up of state and local officials, utility representatives, and conservation group leaders — to steer the creation of a plan to manage the delicate watershed while continuing to provide water for more than 250,000 people.

The partnership met several times over the last eight months and conducted a community survey that collected responses from 850 people.

The group’s initial recommendations do not come with a total estimated price tag, though some price estimates for individual components were included in an earlier draft of the document. 

Group seeking to build Columbia Dam on Duck River teams with Ogles to pursue federal funds for study

A separate feasibility study completed by the Mallory Valley Utility District in September estimated that a pipeline connecting to the Cumberland River — about 30 miles away from Columbia — could cost around $1.9 billion. This pipeline was not among the advisory group’s recommendations, though the group did state that information gathered during this feasibility study may help inform the study of a potential Tennessee River pipeline.

A proposal to build a dam on the Duck River in Columbia was not included in the recommendations. A group called “Columbia Dam Now” has been advocating for a new dam for months, positioning it as the only solution to keeping water affordable in fast-growing southern Middle Tennessee. The idea has been staunchly opposed by environmental groups that say a dam would have detrimental environmental impacts and question the project’s feasibility and land requirements. 

Columbia Dam Now announced in July that the group was working with U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles to secure congressional funding for a feasibility study for the proposed dam, but that funding has yet to materialize. The Maury County Commission passed a non-binding resolution supporting a feasibility study for the dam proposal in November. In a social media post, Ogles wrote that the resolution “affirms my work to secure a feasibility study for this dam so we can provide water ASAP.”

The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership’s initial recommendations range from short-term to long-term, covering issues including drought preparedness and response, meeting regional water needs, conserving water and habitats, and public engagement.

Drought

Within two years:

• Revise and adopt a Duck River Regional Drought Management Plan including voluntary and mandatory water use restrictions based on drought level, monitoring for river flow and withdrawals, and voluntary conservation commitments. 
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, TDEC, or the Governor’s Office should establish a water monitoring council composed of members from state water, wildlife and emergency management agencies and the Tennessee Climate Office, which will coordinate with national weather, water and emergency management agencies to respond to drought and flood conditions.
• Develop a Duck River Dashboard that tracks current data from the Normandy Dam at TVA, U.S. Geological Survey stream gages, discharge monitoring and utilities (water withdrawals and returns).

Within five years:

• TDEC should update its statewide drought management plan rules to require utilities to have water shortage response plans — including water withdrawal and water use reductions — that are activated during periods of drought or low river flow.
• TDEC and the Duck River Development Agency should consider installing more gauges to measure flow, groundwater and water quality, potentially in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey to better understand the relationship between groundwater and surface water during low-flow periods.

Within six years or more:

• Create off-stream storage ponds near water treatment plants to capture and store water during high-flow periods, providing an alternative supply during droughts.

Regional water needs

Within two years:

• TDEC should commission a water needs analysis for the watershed, to be completed by August 30, 2026.
• TDEC should commission a regionalization feasibility study of water and wastewater utilities to be completed by August 30, 2026.
• TVA should evaluate raising the Normandy Dam winter pool up to 5 feet, retaining more water during winter months to reduce risk of low flows during the summer.
• TDEC should provide an analysis of a possible pipeline to the Tennessee River.

Within five years:

• Develop financial incentives for regionalization activities based on the findings of the regionalization feasibility study.

Within six years or more:

• TVA and TDEC should begin a feasibility study on raising the height of the Normandy Dam’s summer pool up to five feet, informed by the findings of the water needs analysis.

Water and habitat conservation

Within two years:

• Establish a water loss reduction program that works with utilities across the state to audit water loss and address issues found during these audits, with incentives for reducing loss.

Within five years:

• Provide incentives to private landowners who pursue conservation easements and/or practice sustainable agriculture that protects the river’s habitat and water quality.
• Invest in groundwater recharge, green infrastructure and rainwater harvesting projects.
• Create a wetland restoration fund to restore and expand wetlands in the Duck River watershed.
• Encourage local governments to consider adopting overlays creating permanent development buffer zones on each riverbank.
• Develop a watershed-wide growth plan.

• Develop a water use efficiency plan to evaluate, promote and track efficiency practices.

Within six years or more:

• Promote water-efficient fixtures, smart irrigation, industrial reuse, green infrastructure, and other initiatives to reduce water use and demand. 

Public engagement

Within two years:

• Create and promote educational materials about the Duck River and watershed protection for multiple audiences, including recreational users, nonprofits, farmers and utilities.
• Create and promote a ready-to-use tool kit linking watershed issues like drought and land use to education and actionable steps.

11-20-25 DRWPP Initial Report and Recommendations and Cover Letter