2 0 1 8 / 2 0 1 9 A N N UA L R E P O R T C U M B E R L A N D R I V E R CO M PAC T

About
Our vision
Focus

Annual Overview
Education
Outreach
Restoration

Financials
About
Our vision
is clean and
abundant
water.
Three million people and thousands of
species depend on clean and abundant
water from the Cumberland River.
Our job is to make sure they get it.

We work on root problems of water

pollution, both urban and rural. Our goal
is to give people the tools to be smart,
impactful stewards of their watershed
and to constructively partner in policy
planning with government agencies.
We protect one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world.
EDUCATION

RESTORATION

OUR FOCUS

OUTREACH
“In 2018 the Cumberland River Compact worked with communities throughout
the basin, and we saw exponential growth in volunteerism and engagement
from all across the 18,000 square mile region. It has long been our goal to es-
tablish a community of farmers, urbanites, suburban families and small town
residents who identify as benefieciaries of the Cumberland River’s bounty.
The water flowing from Cumberland Falls to Lake Barkely, from Caney Fork
to downtown Nashville, and through the Big South Fork Forest to Clarksville’s
beautiful riverfront park unites us. Now, more than ever, that community is
working with the Cumberland River Compact and together we will ensure that
our waters remain clean and abundant.”

~ Mekayle Houghton, Executive Director

 Annual
Overview
EDUCATION

1,851
young people educated
through opportunities like
Creek Critters and STEM
programming.

In 2018, the Compact worked to grow

the number of students that received our
programming, like Creek Critters, so that
more young people understand the value
of our water resources. Youth that value
our resources can go on to become
scientists, innovators, engineers,
advocates, and more.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Annie Goodhue
Longtime volunteer, Annie Goodhue is
a retired aquatic biologist from the
Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation. During her time with TDEC,
she monitored stream quality across the
state through macroinvertebrate sampling.
As a Compact volunteer, Annie teaches
students in local schools about the critters
that live in our creeks. This program, known as
Creek Critters, launched in 2015 under Annie’s
guidance. In 2018 we reached more students
than in all the previous years combined. Thank
you, Annie, for your continued contributions to
environmental education in Tennessee.
1,163 people attended 26 River Talks hosted
in the Compact’s River Center in 2018.
River Talks are a free educational lecture series that feature speakers from around the basin to
share art, history, innovation, recreation, and more on the Cumberland River.
ENGAGEMENT

893
community volunteers
played an essential role
in accomplishing tree
plantings, river cleanups,
invasive species removal,
community events and
much more.
 DRAGON BOAT
The 2018 Dragon Boat races brought together 40 teams from around
Nashville to compete for the Grand Champion title. This exciting festival
brings traditional dragon boat racing to the Cumberland River and
reminds us that the river is a place for recreation. The event drew over
1500 people and only continues to grow!
HELLBENDER ON
THE RIVER
The Cumberland River Compact likes to kick
off summer with its annual Hellbender on the
River. This evening of cocktails on the river not
only celebrates our beautiful river, but helps to
support the work of the Compact to enhance
and maintain the clean water that is home to
the threatened Hellbender. Hellbenders are
giant aquatic amphibians that breathe
through their skin so they are great indicators
of clean water. 75% of the Hellbender
population has disappeared due to urban
development, dams, mining and agriculture.
 WATERFEST
We had 37 exhibitors, Prizes from 18 local companies like
Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center, Cheekwood, and
Cumberland Kayak. Event sponsored in part by the Nashville
Predators Foundation.

Attendance between 1800-2000 youth and their families.

 17.5
miles of stream adoption
59
waterway cleanup events

34,187
pounds of trash removed
336
tires recycled

2600
pounds recycled material
RIVIVE! NASHVILLE
Rivive Nashville is a collaborative effort to raise awareness around Nashville’s water quality
threats as well as easy ways to take action. Launched in 2017, the campaign used public art to
generate community engagement and encourage folks to take a pledge to improve waterways.

Special thanks to the Dan and Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund for supporting this work.
 ROOT NASHVILLE
Root Nashville launched in October 2018
and represents a public/private partnership
between the Cumberland River Compact and
the Nashville Mayor’s office that has a goal
of planting 500,000 trees in Davidson County
by 2050. 5,000 trees have been planted since
launch!

Thanks to the Martin Brown Family for their generous

donation to launch this effort.
RESTORATION
& STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT

3
dams removed
on Mill Creek
In 2018, three low-head dams were
removed on Mill Creek, restoring over
50 miles of connectivity.

These three dams were the last to be

removed on Mill Creek, following the six
other dams that the Compact helped
remove in previous years.

For the first time in over 50 years, Mill

Creek flows freely from its headwaters
in Antioch, to the Cumberland River and
is safer to paddlers, and critters like the
endangered Nashville Crayfish who calls
Mill Creek home.
 52
raingardens
planted

Adaptive stormwater management in Nolensville, TN

Mill Creek is one of Nashville’s more heav-
ily urbanized watersheds. This watershed
is especially unique because it is the only
home of the endangered Nashville Crayfish.
To address the impacts of urbanization
and weather extremes on Mill Creek, the
Compact worked with Williamson Coun-
ty Schools to install a suite of adaptive
stormwater management and restoration
practices, as well as educational opportuni-
ties about the project.
With the goal of slowing down and sinking
stormwater exiting the campus, the Com-
pact installed two bioretention areas and a
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance
(series of step pools) around the campus.

Funding for this project was made possible by the Wildlife Conservation Society,
and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
 TREE PLANTINGS AND CARE

954 1,565 677

Rootball trees Seedlings planted Hours of tree
planted maintenance and
watering

Funding for tree plantings and care made

possible through Root Nashville.
Financials
Program Spending

12%
Education
30%
Urban Water Stewardship

20%
Watershed
TOTAL PROGRAM
SPENDING

Planning
$733,574

3%
River Friendly Farming

35%
Stream Restoration
Revenue vs. Expense
Revenue $2,000,000
$1,708,450

Expenses
$1,504,304

$1,500,000

$1,000,000

$500,000

0
Revenue Expenses

*Audited financial statements are available at www.GivingMatters.com.

2 Victory Ave #300, Nashville, TN 37213 | cumberlandrivercompact.org