INSTREAM FLOW POLICY STATEMENT

Both the Tennessee Water Quality Control Act and the Tennessee Wildlife Code require that water withdrawal not result in a condition of pollution or harm to aquatic habitat and that resulting Instream Flow provide for the protection of fish and aquatic life.  Numerous smaller rivers and streams in Tennessee are no longer suitable for providing sustained water withdrawal for ever-increasing multiple use demand and are, at best, suitable candidates for well-planned water harvesting projects.  Examples of sustained multiple use demands exceeding available flow include Doe Creek, Little Pigeon River, Big Creek, Little River, Harpeth River, Piney River, and Green River.
Protection and conservation of fish, aquatic life, and aquatic habitat require that Instream Flow not be less than 20% above the September median flow or 20% above the appropriate multiple of the 7Q10 and reflect the necessary flow regime according to the natural hydrograph of that river due to sustained water withdrawal.  Permit applicants proposing to harvest water should provide a water harvest and storage prescription that minimizes negative effects on downstream hydrology, all aquatic life, geomorphology, connectivity, and water quality.  Permit applicants proposing sustained withdrawal should provide a proposed Instream Flow Prescription based on an accepted assessment methodology and that the Instream Flow prescription is consistent with the Instream Flow Council’s policy statements.

Reference:  Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship.  Instream Flow Council (2004).