The original document read "...emphasis on human consumption rather than aquatic life," but Doug Murphy of the Shelbyville-based Tennessee Duck River Agency told commissioners that the two are not necessarily at odds, and that it might be counterproductive to antagonize environmental groups.

"The critters will be the first ones to die, when that water stops running," said Murphy. He said aquatic life tends to be in shallow areas, while water intakes tend to be much deeper.

Still, he said wildlife authorities must learn that some loss of aquatic population may be inevitable.

Murphy made a lengthy report to commissioners Tuesday night -- he said County Mayor Eugene Ray had originally invited him to give a five-minute presentation, but he told Ray the water issue is too complex to be discussed in that short a time.

As reported earlier this week, Normandy Lake is now rising, with more inflow than outflow, but is still far lower than officials would like it to be. The lake's current level, said Murphy, is 858.8 feet above sea level.

"We are gaining," said Murphy. "The curve has changed."

The current level is an improvment on the recent record low of 852 feet, but it's still far lower than the normal winter pool of 864 feet.

Murphy said the area is in the third year of a drought which started in March 2006; the National Weather Service officially predicts three to five more years of drought, with some informal speculation that it might last longer, or that drought periods might be more and more common during the coming decades due to changing ocean currents and weather patterns.

A recent change allowing less of a water flow at the U.S. Geological Survey gauge in Shelbyville allowed the release of water from the dam to be reduced.

Murphy discussed the preparation of an emergency water shortage action plan, and a regional water use restriction plan.

Possible short-term remedies for the area's water problems include raising Normandy Dam, to increase the storage capacity of Normandy Lake during times of rainfall. A water use program would work with developers to make sure that new homes built in the area have water-conserving fixtures like low-flow toilets and shower heads.

In the long term, a regional supply plan might work to better connect area utilities in a "grid" system.

The resolution, amended to take out the reference to aquatic life, passed the commission by voice vote.