Duck River Protection Bill Advances, Receives Committee Approval

A bill aimed at strengthening protections for the Duck River and other waterways is moving forward in the Tennessee General Assembly.

House Bill 1510 passed out of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee without amendments and now heads to the full House floor. The measure has already passed the Senate and is expected to receive favorable consideration. The bill expands protections by designating more of the Duck River and additional waterways as scenic rivers, limiting certain types of development that could impact water quality.

According to committee records, the bill received majority support. Among those voting in favor was State Representative Clay Doggett of Pulaski, who represents District 70.

Two members voted against the bill, while one abstained.

Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt praised the bill’s progress and thanked Representative Pat Marsh and residents who voiced support.

Butt said efforts to protect the Duck River have been ongoing for years, particularly amid concerns over potential landfill development in Maury County. She noted that both the City of Columbia and Maury County have adopted the Jackson Law, which requires local approval before a landfill can be permitted near city limits.

Additional protections were put in place in 2023 when a portion of the Duck River in Maury County was designated as a Class II scenic river.