First In A Series Of Reports
Image Credit: Columbia Dam Now
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
Maury County, Tennessee is experiencing growing pain and has water issues because of accelerated development. At least 8000 new homes have been approved by planners and industrial development has been slowed for lack of adequate water resources.
A group of citizen activists and stakeholders, COLUMBIA DAM NOW, are proposing a real-world solution that questions the demolition of the Columbia Dam and calls for its rebuilding to save the Duck River Watershed from destruction and solve the water issues of Middle Tennessee.
TVA built the Columbia Dam decades ago, but it was demolished in 1999. Critics say the demo was prompted by environmentalists related to unfounded concerns that certain species of fish may go extinct. The demolition has eliminated a critically needed future water source for the surrounding area and threatens the very existence of the Duck River. At least seven utilities draw massive amounts of water from the Duck River each day.
Having a 12,600-acre reservoir lake on the Duck River would eliminate the need for building a pipeline, or multiple pipelines, from the Cumberland River to Maury County and surrounding areas. The real estate needed for such a lake reservoir is already owned by TVA in the headwater area of the proposed Columbia Dam Project. The utility acquired about 15,100 acres of land for the lake before the original Columbia Dam was constructed.
The longer of two suggested pipelines would traverse 55 miles of private property and require property acquisition, possibly by eminent domain.
The Co-Founder of Columbia Dam Now speaks out.
“Having been raised here and seeing a portion of our land being taken for a lake that never came to fruition is a hard pill to swallow. Even more disheartening is knowing that we could have had a reservoir which would have prevented the water situation that we find ourselves in today. I am a member of the Maury County Water System water board and as such I know the dire circumstances that exist today as it pertains to the Duck River. It is the primary water source for almost all of southern middle Tennessee, serving seven utilities which currently withdraw approximately 35 million gallons of water per day from the Duck [river]. If current permit request for increased withdrawals were accommodated from the seven utilities, that number would jump to 65 million gallons of water per day. There is not enough water in the duck river to accommodate that kind of request, especially during the summer months. With the continued growth that we are experiencing, we have to find another way to provide more water to our communities or soon the Duck River will be pools of water along a river bed, no longer flowing and placing our River in jeopardy.” – said Jason Gilliam, Maury County Water Board Member
The Tennessee Conservative News will follow this issue and publish news reports on all aspects of the Columbia Dam initiative and will seek commentary from a variety of stakeholders.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
