NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Speaker Pro Tempore Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, this week successfully guided the passage of legislation that expands protections for the Duck River and other pristine waterways that provide drinking water for millions in the Volunteer State.
House Bill 1510 provides safeguards around newly designated segments of certain rivers and creeks, while ensuring private property rights are protected. The legislation coincides with the Scenic Rivers Act, passed in 1968, which establishes that for rivers designated as Class I, Class III, and in some cases Class II, a landowner’s permission is required for a boundary to be established.
“The Duck River is an extraordinary natural Tennessee treasure that provides drinking water for millions,” Marsh said. “This legislation is critically important because it provides the tools to protect these sensitive stretches of the Duck River and other scenic waterways from high-impact development, while fully respecting private property rights. This is an irreplaceable resource for future generations of Tennesseans and a major victory for conservation.”
House Bill 1510 applies the Class II protection to designated portions of the Buffalo, Duck, West and East Piney Rivers, as well as parts of the Beaverdam, North and South Fork Lick, Dry Branch and Swan Creeks. Permission from property owners would be obtained by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) through notarized consent.
House Bill 1510 also helps ensure that high-impact development does not threaten sensitive waterways. Active landfills with valid permits issued before the law takes effect are grandfathered in and may still be built, operated or expanded, even if within two miles of the area listed. The bill does not prohibit the development of landfills statewide, as significant acreage remains available for such uses outside the protected areas. These areas would be subject to local approval and must be permitted by TDEC.
The Duck River, which spans more than 280 miles and runs through Bedford County and surrounding communities, is widely recognized as one of the most biodiverse rivers in the United States and serves as a primary water source for millions of Tennesseans.
House Bill 1510 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk to be signed into law.
Rep. Pat Marsh represents District 62, which includes part of Bedford, Moore and Lincoln counties.
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