The Duck River: Nature's gem

Among the countries of the world, the United States has the most species of mammals and among the richest flora of any temperate country. It leads the rest of the world in diversity of salamanders, crayfishes, freshwater turtles, and freshwater mollusks, and the southeast is the global epicenter of this aquatic diversity.

Tennessee is considered by scientists to be the most species-rich inland state, with its biodiversity concentrated in the world's five most threatened types of plants and animals -- fish, crayfish, mussels, amphibians and flowering plants.

Our very own Duck River contains more fish species than are found in all of Europe. However, 22 percent of the state's fish species are at risk, a particularly sobering figure in light of Tennessee's immense fish diversity. The loss of animals that depend on clean water for their survival sounds a warning bell for the human community.

Winding 269 miles through the heart of Tennessee, the Duck River is noted in The Nature Conservancy's "Rivers of Live" as the number two aquatic hot spot in the country with 33 at-risk fish and mussel species. With 54 species of freshwater mussels, 24 species of riversnails and 151 fish species, the Duck River is considered the most biologically diverse river in North America.

Few rivers anywhere can equal these biological riches and few opportunities exist to protect such a wide and wonderful array of southeastern fauna. The 1.8 million acre Duck River watershed is faced with a number of challenges making conserving it a monumental and compelling endeavor. These challenges range from explosive growth and municipal impacts, to non-point source pollution from a wide array of sources.

In order to preserve this treasure, it is crucial that local communities take an active role in addressing the diverse pressures and issues affecting this remarkable system such as regional water supply issues, changing land use due to rapid and often unplanned growth, impacts of urban stormwater, education and outreach, agricultural impacts, community access to the river and source water protection.

The Duck River provides a wealth of benefits and its long-term health depends on the people who live in the watershed.

The Fauna

Over 75 percent of all molluscan species in the southeastern United States are in decline. Molluscs are the most imperiled large animal group on the planet. Over 69 species of freshwater mussels and over 20 species of pleurocid riversnails are documented from the Duck River system. This is one of the last refugia remaining in Tennessee, indeed the world, for many of these species. Five of six federally listed mussels and three listed fish species are present.

Often, the wonders that are closest to us go unnoticed. Here in Middle Tennessee, the rivers and forests we pass by every day are teeming with riches unequaled almost anywhere else in the world. The rich natural heritage of our nation is second to none, yet as we narrow our focus to the southeast, to Tennessee, to the Tennessee Valley, to the Duck River, the abundance of plant and animals species around us is truly extraordinary.