Residents warn proposed Watterson quarry could harm Duck River watershed

Residents told the Coffee County Planning Commission on Oct. 28, 2025, that a proposed project on roughly 60 acres attributed to Terrell Watterson appears to be a quarry and could cause long-term damage to groundwater and the Duck River watershed.

"I have some concerns about the proposed Watterson Farm Lakes project," a resident identified in the hearing as Mr. Sandstrom said, arguing the site lies in the headwaters of both the Duck River and the Middle Fork of the Stones River and that blasting could produce "irreversible" effects.

Why it matters: speakers said the planned excavation — described in public remarks as up to about 175 feet deep across some portion of 60 acres — could create voids that hold billions of gallons of groundwater. Using figures cited at the meeting, speakers estimated the full excavation could represent roughly 3,400,000,000 gallons, which they said would be enough water to supply nearby cities for more than two years if it were held in impoundments.

Cam Sandstrom, who identified himself as a neighbor and said he had spoken with Jeff Klein…