For over 50 years, Tennessee’s Water Quality Control Act has protected a broad range of water resources, including isolated wetlands. But over the past few years, that legacy has been at risk because of proposed legislation.
During the past two legislative sessions, Harpeth Conservancy has worked in close partnership with a broad coalition to ensure that Tennessee maintains practical, science-based protections for wetlands. These ecosystems provide critical services—from reducing flood risk and filtering pollutants to supporting biodiversity and maintaining groundwater recharge. Preserving these natural resources is essential to the health of our waterways and communities.
Last summer, dozens of those stakeholders from the home building industry, farming community, and environmental organizations – including HC – collaborated to find a compromise for updating legal protections for Tennessee’s wetlands. These sessions culminated in a recommendation that served as a compromise for all stakeholders.
The final bill (HB0541/SB0670) that passed in the legislative session did not encompass many key recommendations from this collaborative process. While it was an improvement over earlier drafts and avoids the most damaging outcomes initially proposed, it still falls short of fully safeguarding the wetlands that play a critical role in protecting Tennessee’s globally unique water resources.
We are so grateful to those who collaborated with us, provided expertise, and spent countless hours to help protect our wetlands. Through our expertise and the partnership of many, we were able to give a voice to one of our state’s most valuable resources. Without this voice, the resulting legislation would have been significantly worse.
Grace Stranch, Harpeth Conservancy’s CEO, shares, “It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated group of partners throughout this process. While this legislation advanced, the conversations we have initiated and the progress we have made highlight what can be accomplished when people unite with a shared purpose. This coalition has established a strong foundation—one that I believe will continue to grow and enhance as we work to improve policies, protect our natural resources, and ensure that Tennessee’s rivers and wetlands are valued and safeguarded for the long term. I look forward to continuing this work with renewed focus and collaboration.”
HC commits to staying actively engaged in the regulatory process to ensure that the implementation of this new framework upholds the integrity of Tennessee’s water quality standards and protects our state’s remaining wetlands for future generations. Additionally, we remain committed to advocating for and educating about the vital role all wetlands play in Tennessee.
For more information on Tennessee’s wetlands, please visit our page here: https://harpethconservancy.org/tennessee-wetlands/
To speak with someone or arrange an interview, please contact:
Jess Martin
Communications Manager
jessmartin@harpethriver.org
(615) 790-9767 ext. 9003