TDEC budget hearing highlights state parks, Duck River plan and state-level fusion regulation

The Department of Environment and Conservation told the Finance, Ways and Means Committee on March 11, 2025, that its proposed 2025–26 budget would end the state parks deferred maintenance backlog, fund several new parks, advance a regional water-resource plan for the Duck River and establish a state-level regulatory framework for fusion energy.

TDEC Commissioner David Salyers opened the presentation by summarizing departmental priorities and said recent reforms have reduced permitting delays and cut red tape; he told members the department’s proposed budget “conserves Tennessee, which helps to grow Tennessee.” Deputy and bureau leaders who joined Salyers included Dr. Ronnie Atkins (deputy commissioner, Bureau of Environment), Karen Simo (chief operating officer and deputy commissioner, Bureau of Operations and Strategic Engagement), and Greer Tidwell (deputy commissioner, Bureau of Conservation).

State parks and deferred maintenance: Commissioner Salyers said the budget would eliminate the parks’ deferred maintenance backlog and fully staff two of nine already-named new parks. TDEC listed nine new parks in its planning materials and identified three parks receiving budgeted funding this cycle: Dry Branch (at the Perry–Hickman–Lewis…