HICKMAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — Like many of you, I enjoy spending afternoons on the Duck River, whether kayaking or swimming. But environmentalists worry the river’s future could be in jeopardy if changes aren’t made soon.

Don Hubbs loves to talk and walk in search of freshwater clams.

“This is a Three-Horned Warty Back,” said Hubbs, a retired TWRA Malacologist and current environmental consultant. “This animal was only two years old when it died.”

But what he really wants to avoid is having to do just that — collecting all the dead clams along the banks of the Duck River in Hickman County.

“You can tell they died recently by the shiny interior of their shells,” said Hubbs, who plans to study what type of clam they are in order to track endangered species.

Don believes hundreds, possibly even thousands, of endangered freshwater mussels have died this year due to historically low water levels in the Duck River.

“They are left to their own devices, if they can’t get close to water or can’t burrow into it, they dry out and disappear,” Hubbs explained.

The problem is that mussels are considered the “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to the health of the river.

“They are natural biological filters for the river,” Hubbs said.

Two main problems

Environmentalists say the Duck River is grappling with two major problems at once: historic drought conditions, and utilities and industry are sucking huge volumes of water out of the river.

“I’m seeing things I’ve never seen before. Rocks, holes. We’re afraid we’re going to lose the river,” said Doug Jones, who has lived along the Duck River since the 1970s.

Jones believes the state should intervene and order water companies to reduce water withdrawals since the river has so little to offer.

“These water companies look at this as a product like oil or gas, and it’s not. It’s a product for the citizens of the state and we need to have some protection for it,” Jones said.

Instead, the state is ready to do the opposite.

“The state is proposing to drastically increase the amount of water that utilities can take from the Duck River,” said George Nolan, director of the Southern Environmental Law Center in Tennessee.

As my colleague Hannah McDonald reported earlier this year, eight public water utilities along the Duck River are seeking permits to draw an additional 19 million gallons of water per day from the Duck River.

Water companies say they need the extra water because of all the growth in communities upstream of Hickman County — like Shelbyville and Columbia. Nolan believes there has to be a compromise.

“We’re basically looking to put in protective barriers that will work during periods of drought like this,” Nolan said.

Possible solutions

Republican state Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, joined us along the Duck River and told me he agrees with SELC.

“That has to change. There has to be some balance that also takes into account what’s left for the downstream communities that still rely on the river for various businesses,” Barrett said. “That’s where the government has to step in, take the initiative and say, here’s what we need to do to make sure this is fair and equitable for everyone.”

In the short term, the Southern Environmental Law Center wants Gov. Bill Lee to use emergency power to curtail water use on the Duck River. In the long term, it may be time for communities upstream to look for alternative water sources, such as access to the Cumberland River.

While we were filming this footage, Don was constantly looking for dead clams.

“It didn’t take me 30 minutes to fill this bag because I’m old and slow,” Hubbs said with a smile.

He worries that this is just the beginning if something doesn’t change soon. “How far will the scale tip before this animal goes extinct?” he asked.

Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Email: [email protected].

Nashville animal welfare groups tackle overpopulation

The sad reality is that animal shelters and nonprofit rescues are constantly overwhelmed — so many dogs, cats, and other animals are waiting for a forever home. Jason Lamb reports here that Metro leaders are working with these groups — including Critter Cavalry — to find solutions. I adopted a dog from Critter Cavalry, so I understand the need is great. And I found my puppy, Domino, through another local group, Proverbs Animal Rescue. Ultimately, it all starts with all of us. Spaying or neutering more dogs and cats can help control the pet population — and reduce the burden.

-Rhori Johnston