It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic John Gordon House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Duck River, TN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Francie, thank you so much for the brief visit. It was a pleasure to meet”
“I've been working at Always Best Care Nashville for a few months now, and I”
“I have had the pleasure of working with Always Best Care, and I can't speak”
“"Best care" was definitely our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services. After a family”
“We so appreciated the team at Always Best Care was amazing! Stacie listened to”
“Hello! I've just retired from ABC Senior Services - Philadelphia PA I was with the”
“Amazing company!!!!”
“I have found Always Best Care to provide exceptional service with caring, responsible Caregivers. ”
“Great response time! They did a great job meeting our needs.”
“I been with them for over7 years”
“I have been a caregiver for this company for 8 years plus. The office staff”
“I am extremely grateful for the home care services ABC offers. Their staff is absolutely”
“I’d like to take a moment to thank you and everyone at Always Best Care”
“We have been accessing Always Best Care’s wonderful staff in recent months to go along”
“Can't say enough nice things about the caregivers from ABC. Professional, personal, reliable, we feel”
“I was in need of someone to be with my husband for 8 hours while”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond! They treat you and your loved ones like”
“A very kind review from a client's family member that was received today. We are”
“This is an amazing company! I work at a senior living community and we love”
“Stacey is so knowledgeable and a great resource for senior care.”
“The best company I've ever worked for, we're all a team and strive to give”
“Always Best Care exceeded my expectations! Their caring staff helped make mine and my family's”
“Always Best Care exceeded my expectations! Their caring staff helped make mine and my family's”
“Francie, thank you so much for the brief visit. It was a pleasure to meet you and have the opportunity to give you my honest assessment of your company and Lisa in particular. From the moment I met Stacy and outlined our needs until I first met Lisa I felt comfortable and felt positive about your company and the staff. You and your staff are very sincere and compassionate. Lisa is a dream come true. She is gracious and kind and extremely well-trained. You only have to request something once and she remembers. She is thoughtful and precise about her work and helps in any way she can. She is the BEST" at her job should be held as the gold standard. Thank you for the beautiful flowers. We enjoyed them very much. Sincerely, Pam W”
“I've been working at Always Best Care Nashville for a few months now, and I can confidently say it's been a fantastic experience. The supportive and collaborative environment here truly stands out. The team is made up of dedicated professionals who genuinely care about providing the best care for our clients. If you're looking for a caring and professional organization to work for or to seek care services from, I highly recommend Always Best Care Nashville. It’s been a pleasure to be part of such a committed and compassionate team!”
“I have had the pleasure of working with Always Best Care, and I can't speak highly enough about this amazing organization. The team is incredibly wonderful and compassionate, going above and beyond in every aspect of their work. From the very first interaction, it's clear that they truly care about their caregivers and the community they serve. Their dedication to providing top-notch senior services is evident in the genuine relationships they build and the thoughtful care they deliver.”
“"Best care" was definitely our experience with Always Best Care Senior Services. After a family member visiting Nashville was stranded in a hotel room following a fall, we were desperate for help. Friday evening at 7PM isn't a great time to go looking for help, but Stacey jumped in and by 9PM we had the support we needed to get us to the next morning's flight back home. Our nurse Eunice was friendly, communicative, anticipated our needs and made us immediately at ease. Ours wasn't the typical case, but I'm sure the urgency and care Stacey and Eunice showed us IS typical for them!”
“We so appreciated the team at Always Best Care was amazing! Stacie listened to what I needed and helped me find just the right fit AND has continued support as I navigate all the details!! Fantastic organization!”
“Hello! I've just retired from ABC Senior Services - Philadelphia PA I was with the company for 7 years 3 months as a caregiver. I've learned much from each and every client l've served and have found the work to be very gratifying and rewarding. During my time, I have formed lasting bonds with several of my former clients and their loved ones.”
“Amazing company!!!!”
“I have found Always Best Care to provide exceptional service with caring, responsible Caregivers. The office communicates great with the family members involved and they are all very professional I would recommend their services to anyone looking for a great support team for their loved one.”
“Great response time! They did a great job meeting our needs.”
“I been with them for over7 years”
“I have been a caregiver for this company for 8 years plus. The office staff are incredible and the caregivers pour their whole hearts into caring for others. We're all very passionate about what we do and take so much pride in that. Love my company and highly recommend for any of your needs rather that be needing care or wanting to become a caregiver”
“I am extremely grateful for the home care services ABC offers. Their staff is absolutely phenomenal. Very professional, dependable and caring. The support staff for scheduling and billing are very courteous and easy to do business with.”
“I’d like to take a moment to thank you and everyone at Always Best Care for the assistance and great care provided to my mother following her stroke. After a lengthy stay in a rehabilitation center, mom was very clear that she wanted to go home. The stroke had unfortunately robbed her of her independence, and to go home, we would need round-the-clock care. Always Best Care came into our family at that point and made it possible for mom to be at home for over 20 months. Maintaining continuity of care and finding the right match of caregivers is no east task. There are so many moving parts that go into making that happen day after day, and somehow your team made it look easy. Coordinating staffing around last-minute callouts, illness, incompatible personalities, holidays, family dynamics, etc. These and other challenges did arise, but the important thing is that you reliably found solutions. Through a challenging state in my mother’s life, and for our entire family, your caregiver and office staff provide the support and peace of mind we needed. We’ve been very fortunate along the way to have many wonderful caregivers, and I’ve personally enjoyed getting to know them, I want to emphasize that you have very special people on your team. Thank you for supporting our family and caring for my mother!”
“We have been accessing Always Best Care’s wonderful staff in recent months to go along with my husband to doctor’s appointments. I’ve lost track of how many times, but it’s been frequent. And every one of their caregivers have been outstanding. So wonderful to know you can rely on the people at ABC!”
“Can't say enough nice things about the caregivers from ABC. Professional, personal, reliable, we feel so fortunate to be working with them.”
“I was in need of someone to be with my husband for 8 hours while I had to be away from home. I was a little nervous since we had never used this type of service before. The two ladies who interviewed us and explained the procedure could not have been nicer and more professional. When the caregiver Rhonda arrived, she immediately put us at ease. She was very efficient in making sure she had my husband’s medicine doses correct and in asking questions pertinent to his Parkinson’s. When I returned home, they both seemed to have had a great time looking at my husband’s extensive photography collection and watching westerns on TV. We will most definitely use Always Best Care again!”
“Always Best Care goes above and beyond! They treat you and your loved ones like family. When faced with the difficult decisions that come along with caring for a senior, they showed compassion and helped guide us with confidence. My family can not recommend them enough!”
“A very kind review from a client's family member that was received today. We are grateful to have such wonderful families to work with and take care of in addition to great staff like Stacey Leverette. To Whom it May Concern, I would like to recommend Always Best Care Senior Services. My experience with them has been great! My father had advanced Parkinson's disease as well as some other physical problems. He finally got to the place he needed some assistance. I contacted Stacey and she came out and met with my dad and myself. She was very knowledgeable and thoroughly answered all the questions and concerns for us. More than anything else, she calmed all the concerns that my father had. In a very short time Stacey had someone on site. We've had days where we needed to change the day or time of service because of appointments, holidays or something else. When that occurs, I simply call Stacey and give her the information and she makes the adjustments in a seamless manner. If you work with her for a little bit, you will see quickly that she is very good at what she does. It has been a very good experience. I recommend Always Best Care. Yours Sincerely, Bill A.”
“This is an amazing company! I work at a senior living community and we love having ABC come in our community to be an extra support to our residents. Casie will take good care of you!”
“Stacey is so knowledgeable and a great resource for senior care.”
“The best company I've ever worked for, we're all a team and strive to give the best care we possibly can to our clients and families!”
“Always Best Care exceeded my expectations! Their caring staff helped make mine and my family's lives so much easier when we were in need of help! My father was well taken care of and developed a great relationship with his ABC caregiver. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for caregiving help!”
“Always Best Care exceeded my expectations! Their caring staff helped make mine and my family's lives so much easier when we were in need of help! My father was well taken care of and developed a great relationship with his ABC caregiver. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for caregiving help!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Duck River Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local River Terrace or visit Duck River Unit Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Duck River, TN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Duck River, TN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Duck River, TN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The pipeline would handle all of the water utility needs for Southern Middle TennesseePhoto by: Devin Crawford/WTVFNASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — After years of conservationists sounding the alarm about the low water levels of the Duck River, the state has a plan for a new water pipeline.Additional details were revealed Tuesday by Tennessee's Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson during a budget presentation on Tennessee's Capitol Hill. "There is a plan on the table to bring a water line from the Cumbe...
The pipeline would handle all of the water utility needs for Southern Middle Tennessee
Photo by: Devin Crawford/WTVF
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — After years of conservationists sounding the alarm about the low water levels of the Duck River, the state has a plan for a new water pipeline.
Additional details were revealed Tuesday by Tennessee's Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson during a budget presentation on Tennessee's Capitol Hill. "There is a plan on the table to bring a water line from the Cumberland River down to the Columbia area to serve that entire region," said Bryson.
This past summer, the Duck River had double trouble. An extreme drought lowered water levels. At the same time, several water utility companies drew even more water out of the watershed as they tried to keep up with the demand of their growing communities.
The result — a shoreline usually teaming with life became a graveyard of dead organisms. "Picking up all the fresh dead animals, mussel shells," Don Hubbs, a retired TWRA Malacologist, told us last summer. "They’re left high and dry. If they can’t move to the water or they can’t burrow down to it, then they get desiccated."
The Southern Environmental Law Center took the water rights case to court.
The short-term solution
To address the problem, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order that creates a planning partnership for the Duck River. It will allow conservationists and utility companies to meet together to discuss a way to strike the right balance on water usage in the short term.
The Southern Environmental Law Center and water utility companies also agreed to a legal settlement. If we have another drought, utility companies will have to adopt voluntary water conservation measures and monitor their levels of water loss. "Fix leaking pipes, so we’re not pumping river out of the water and then allowing it to leak into the ground unused," said George Nolan, the Tennessee director of the Southern Environmental Law Center. "If they are experiencing loss that’s above the level in the permit, they’re required to come up with a plan as to how they’re going to fix the leaks in their system."
The long-term solution
As a part of the Governor's 2026 Fiscal Year budget, the state is providing $100 million towards seed money for a water pipeline that brings in water from the Cumberland River down towards the Maury County area. The pipeline would not feed into the Duck River, but would provide utility companies with the water they need to service their customers.
"Southern Middle Tennessee is growing very rapidly, and there’s a lot of need for more and more water as the region grows," Bryson Testified. "The Duck River will not be able to support that region in the long term."
The rest of the money for the pipeline will be funded by the utility companies that will use it to provide water for their communities. "They will come up with the additional funds to be able to complete it and serve that region," said Bryson. "It also will serve to take pressure off the Duck River and preserve one of Tennessee’s treasures."
At the beginning of the process, the state also considered drawing water out of the Tennessee River, but that pipeline would have likely been a lot longer. Bryson did not provide a timeline for when the pipeline would be able to become operational.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at [email protected].
A mother’s love. Nathalie Porter epitomizes the deep love mothers have for their children. And she bravely speaks out to confront stereotypes and bring awareness in the face of tragedy. I appreciated Amanda Roberts' compassionate reporting of a heartbreaking situation.
-Carrie Sharp
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Click here for important updates to our privacy policy.CONTRIBUTORSI hope that our lawmakers will not undercut Governor Lee’s conservation priorities by stripping protections for Tennessee’s scenic waterways and wetlands.During his Feb. 10 Stat...
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CONTRIBUTORS
During his Feb. 10 State of the State address, Gov. Bill Lee outlined a bold conservation strategy. He proposed investments to protect the Duck River alongside legislation to curb Tennessee’s rapid loss of farmland.
While I am grateful for Governor Lee’s proposals, I worry that other legislation presently pending in the Tennessee legislature will undermine his efforts.
As a native Tennessean, I am grateful for Governor Lee’s conservation mindset. I grew up on a cattle farm in Bon Aqua, Tennessee, and when I’m not working my day job, I raise cows there with my brother on our family farm in the Duck River watershed.
The Duck River needs and deserves our protection. It’s one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world, supports a thriving sport fishery, and provides drinking water to more than a quarter-million people. But the river is suffering from growing stressors. Droughts are becoming longer and more severe while industrial and residential water demands are increasing.
During last summer’s drought, water levels in the river plunged to historic lows, putting the river’s health and world-class aquatic ecosystems in jeopardy.
At the same time, local utilities are planning to increase dramatically the amount of water they pump from the Duck River to keep pace with Middle Tennessee’s rapid development. Those utilities want permission to pull an additional 22 million gallons of water from the Duck each day, and those threats recently landed the Duck River on a list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers.
The rapid growth that is fueling increased water consumption from the Duck is also consuming farmland at alarming rates. Tennessee is losing farmland to development at a rate of ten acres per hour.
It is against that backdrop that Governor Lee proposes investing $100 million in a regional water supply strategy for the Duck River watershed, and his administration is introducing farmland conservation legislation targeted at helping farmers and curbing farmland loss. But those efforts could be undermined by other legislation.
A recently introduced bill (HB0895/SB0725) would allow a huge landfill to be built on the banks of the Duck River in Maury County. That proposal would strip away protections for Tennessee scenic rivers, and it would threaten downstream communities with harmful pollution.
Another bill (HB0541/SB0670) would remove state law protections for more than 300,000 acres of Tennessee’s wetlands, including wetlands that recharge the groundwater system connected to the Duck River.
Wetlands help keep Tennesseans safe and healthy by soaking up floodwaters and acting as natural sponges and filters. Wetlands slowly release water into our surface and groundwater systems, replenishing our springs, streams, rivers, and underground drinking water aquifers. Without abundant wetlands, our springs, streams, and groundwater systems dry up more quickly during drought, and our neighbors and communities suffer more flooding when hard rains come.
The upper Duck River watershed is a hotspot for wetlands, and if we destroy those wetlands, we will destroy the groundwater system that recharges the river with healthy flow.
Removing legal protections for wetlands will turbocharge farmland loss and make remaining farmland less productive. Farmers should not be forced to suffer losses when crop fields are flooded by runoff from nearby developments, and they should not be forced to worry about their creeks, springs and groundwater wells drying up during drought.
I hope that our lawmakers will not undercut Governor Lee’s conservation priorities by stripping protections for Tennessee’s scenic waterways and wetlands.
George Nolan is director of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Tennessee office.
The Tennessee Aquarium is opening a new exhibit in its Ridges to Rivers gallery, showcasing several freshwater mussel species and their role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.The aquarium says mussels are mollusks with two connected shells protecting a soft internal body. Although they do not have eyes, ears, or a head, they do have gills and a singular foot that can move or burrow into the bottom of the river.Mussels can be quite e...
The Tennessee Aquarium is opening a new exhibit in its Ridges to Rivers gallery, showcasing several freshwater mussel species and their role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.
The aquarium says mussels are mollusks with two connected shells protecting a soft internal body. Although they do not have eyes, ears, or a head, they do have gills and a singular foot that can move or burrow into the bottom of the river.
Mussels can be quite easy to miss; the palm-sized creatures resemble rocks, residing at the bottom of waterways. There, mussels suck up water and filter out nutrients, bacteria, algae, sediment, small amounts of used oil, and other pollutants.
In a nutshell, mussels are a living filtration system that cleanses massive volumes of water.
“They’re the lifeblood of a river system,” says Conservation Manager Stephanie Chance. “It’s just like having your refrigerator filter or your water filter at home. Rivers naturally have their own filter, and that is freshwater mussels.”
"We live in the most biodiverse area for freshwater mussels in the world here in the Tennessee River Valley," says Senior Aquarist Avery Millard, who is responsible for the care of exhibits in Ridges to Rivers.
The mussels come from the Duck River, just west of Chattanooga. The 284-mile river is the longest contained river in Tennessee and is home to an abundance of mussel species, including three that are now featured in the Aquarium's new exhibit:
"I’m from Kansas, and within the whole state, there are only around 50 mussel species," says Chance. "We could easily find 50 species in a day on the Duck River."
Although there are so many species of mussels within our local waterways, they remain one of the most endangered groups of organisms in the United States. However, the Aquarium says there are steps being taken to support the creatures in Tennessee.
For example, in 2024, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to establish management practices to protect the Duck River watershed for its aquatic life and for the 250,000 Tennesseans consuming its drinking water.
As a result of the order, the Tennessee Aquarium was given funding by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for the new exhibit.
"As directed by Governor Lee’s Executive Order, TDEC is working to balance the protection of mussel habitat in the Duck River with the need to provide safe, reliable drinking water for residents," says TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. "Tennesseans can help by promoting the importance of water conservation and participating in public education opportunities like this one at the Tennessee Aquarium."
The Aquarium notes that the new exhibit will also demonstrate how mussels have been a culturally important part of life in Tennessee for millennia.
"They’re a part of our history," Millard says. "For as long as humans have inhabited this area, people have relied on mussels in one way or another. I’m sure even people today have stories of their parents or grandparents using mussels for various things throughout the years."
For more information, visit the Tennessee Aquarium's website or listen to their official podcast episode on the subject.
The Tennessee Aquarium is opening a new exhibit in its Ridges to Rivers gallery, showcasing several freshwater mussel species and their role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.The aquarium says mussels are mollusks with two connected shells protecting a soft internal body. Although they do not have eyes, ears, or a head, they do have gills and a singular foot that can move or burrow into the bottom of the river.Mussels can be quite e...
The Tennessee Aquarium is opening a new exhibit in its Ridges to Rivers gallery, showcasing several freshwater mussel species and their role in maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.
The aquarium says mussels are mollusks with two connected shells protecting a soft internal body. Although they do not have eyes, ears, or a head, they do have gills and a singular foot that can move or burrow into the bottom of the river.
Mussels can be quite easy to miss; the palm-sized creatures resemble rocks, residing at the bottom of waterways. There, mussels suck up water and filter out nutrients, bacteria, algae, sediment, small amounts of used oil, and other pollutants.
In a nutshell, mussels are a living filtration system that cleanses massive volumes of water.
“They’re the lifeblood of a river system,” says Conservation Manager Stephanie Chance. “It’s just like having your refrigerator filter or your water filter at home. Rivers naturally have their own filter, and that is freshwater mussels.”
"We live in the most biodiverse area for freshwater mussels in the world here in the Tennessee River Valley," says Senior Aquarist Avery Millard, who is responsible for the care of exhibits in Ridges to Rivers.
The mussels come from the Duck River, just west of Chattanooga. The 284-mile river is the longest contained river in Tennessee and is home to an abundance of mussel species, including three that are now featured in the Aquarium's new exhibit:
"I’m from Kansas, and within the whole state, there are only around 50 mussel species," says Chance. "We could easily find 50 species in a day on the Duck River."
Although there are so many species of mussels within our local waterways, they remain one of the most endangered groups of organisms in the United States. However, the Aquarium says there are steps being taken to support the creatures in Tennessee.
For example, in 2024, Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to establish management practices to protect the Duck River watershed for its aquatic life and for the 250,000 Tennesseans consuming its drinking water.
As a result of the order, the Tennessee Aquarium was given funding by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for the new exhibit.
"As directed by Governor Lee’s Executive Order, TDEC is working to balance the protection of mussel habitat in the Duck River with the need to provide safe, reliable drinking water for residents," says TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. "Tennesseans can help by promoting the importance of water conservation and participating in public education opportunities like this one at the Tennessee Aquarium."
The Aquarium notes that the new exhibit will also demonstrate how mussels have been a culturally important part of life in Tennessee for millennia.
"They’re a part of our history," Millard says. "For as long as humans have inhabited this area, people have relied on mussels in one way or another. I’m sure even people today have stories of their parents or grandparents using mussels for various things throughout the years."
For more information, visit the Tennessee Aquarium's website or listen to their official podcast episode on the subject.
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