Duck River Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan

One of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America, the Duck River is home to 150 species of fish and 54 species of freshwater mussels. Located in Middle Tennessee, it winds 284 miles across seven counties before emptying into Kentucky Lake, along the Tennessee River.

In November 2024, the State of Tennessee’s Executive Order 108, “An Order to Conserve the Duck River Watershed,” recognized the river’s importance, not just as a “scenic treasure,” but as an economic engine and a source of water for over 250,000 people. The executive order set out a series of initiatives to conserve the Duck River Watershed’s natural resources while supporting ongoing growth.

As part of this process, the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC), in coordination with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, enlisted the help of SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the watershed. TDEC is the presumptive applicant for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and an HCP is required to support that application. The proposed ITP is intended to provide long‑term regulatory certainty while implementing conservation measures designed to minimize and mitigate impacts to covered species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will review the HCP and associated National Environmental Policy Act documentation as part of its evaluation of the ITP application. The HCP will also describe funding sources and implementation plans for conservation actions.

As part of the development of the HCP, SWCA’s team is conducting extensive stakeholder engagement. Working with state and federal agencies, nonprofits, recreational river users, conservation groups, utilities, and more, the team is taking steps to help the HCP reflect the priorities of those who are connected to the watershed. While this is not strictly necessary to obtain an ITP, it is an important step in cultivating support for the HCP’s long-term goals.