After years of advocacy from conservation groups, Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday signed an executive order aiming to protect the Duck River, the longest and most biodiverse river in Tennessee.
The scenic 269-mile waterway is renowned for hosting the largest variety of living organisms of any freshwater river in North America. But the Duck was named the third-most endangered river in the nation by nonprofit environmental organization American Rivers this year due to the threat of “excessive water withdrawals” as utility companies seek to extract millions more gallons of water to supply Middle Tennessee’s fast-growing population.
“As we continue our work to balance Tennessee’s economic growth with a plan to protect our environment, preserving waters like the Duck River and enhancing water resource management statewide will be a cornerstone of our long-term conservation strategy,” Lee said in a news release.
The order creates a partnership charged with forming watershed management recommendations that protect the river’s health as the region’s freshwater needs rise. The new 19-member Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership will also identify ways to manage drought, reduce water loss, preserve habitats and engage with local communities, utilities and industries.
(READ MORE: Federal agencies illegally OKed river dredging, lawsuit alleges)