(a) The commissioner of environment and conservation may, within two (2) years after a river or segment of river has been made part of the state scenic rivers system, determine generally the boundaries of the scenic river area associated with that river or river segment. If a determination of the boundaries is made, the determination shall be in accordance with the following river classifications:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 11-13-108

  • Lands: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • River: means a flowing body of water or a section, portion or tributary thereof, including rivers, streams, creeks, branches, or small lakes. See Tennessee Code 11-13-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) For a Class I river (the gorge and swamp rivers), the boundary shall be established in such a way that it includes at least the entire scenic vista from the river and its banks. For gorge rivers, the boundaries shall be no more than three thousand feet (3,000′) from the center of the river on each side. For swamp rivers, the boundaries shall be no more than one thousand feet (1,000′) from the center of the river on each side; and
(2) For Class II or Class III river areas, the boundary shall include the vista from the river and shall be no more than four hundred fifty feet (450′) from the usual banks of the river on each side.
(b)

(1) If the commissioner of environment and conservation determines that the establishment of boundaries on that segment of Duck River established as a scenic river under § 11-13-104 is to be established then the commissioner shall initiate an outreach program to educate property owners and local communities in the area of this river segment about the program and the environmental and economic benefit the establishment of such boundaries provides. The commissioner shall then, using sound discretion and considering all relevant circumstances, establish a perpetual boundary of the scenic river area associated with the river or river segment.
(2)

(A) If the proposed boundary of the scenic river area includes private property, then the state shall obtain the notarized consent of the private landowner before establishing the boundary.
(B) The department shall only establish boundaries on this river based upon the consent of the owner of any affected private lands.
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