Duck River featured in 'National Geographic'

A feature in the current issue of National Geographic magazine highlights "four of the most biologically-rich places in the world," and one of them is the Duck River.

The magazined assigned photographer David Liittschwager to document places where a variety of life forms could be found in a single cubic foot.

"The four sites he visited included a coral reef in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, Table Mountain in South Africa, a cloud forest in Costa Rica and, lastly, the Duck River in Tennessee," according to a press release from The Nature Conservancy. According to the magazine's web site, the sample was taken at Lillard Mill, 15 miles east of Columbia.

The feature, "Within One Cubic Foot," appears in the February issue of the magazine, which appeared on newsstands last week. It includes an essay from naturalist Edward O. Wilson.

An online version of the article compares those sites to a cubic foot from New York City's Central Park.

"I'm delighted that they have done that," said Shelbyville's Wayne Bomar, "because it verifies the information that we've been given for a long time, which is that the Duck River is one of the most diverse ecosystems, not only in North America, but in the world."

Bomar is a founder of the annual Duck River Cleanup, an event held on the fourth Saturday of June which began in Bedford County but now extends to three other counties along the river, with another county possibly to be added this year. Bomar said the participating counties cover about 150 miles of the river's 270-mile length.

According to The Nature Conservancy, Liittschwager photographed "32 fish species, seven mussel varieties as well as various insects, snails, crayfish and turtles."

The river is "a treasure," Bomar told the Times-Gazette. "Not only is it a lifeline of water, but it is a lifeline of life that is unequaled anywhere in North America."

Leslie Colley, manager of The Nature Conservancy's Duck River Program, agreed.

"The Duck River is absolutely a biological treasure trove," she said in a news release. "It has more freshwater mussel species than any river in the Southeast and more than 150 fish species. It's a vibrant, special place that we are fortunate to have in Tennessee."

Bomar said he hoped that the National Geographic article would bring more attention to the Duck.

"I think it hopefully can make people more aware of how important the river is."

"The Duck River is a healthy river," says Colley, "and with the help of our supporters, we aim to keep it that way."