The Watersheds Program

The Watersheds Program was the first program developed by the Compact and was designed to establish community groups in each of the 14 watersheds within the Cumberland River Basin. At over 18,000 square miles, the Cumberland River Basin is a large area for one organization to handle, so the Watersheds Program facilitates and encourages the formation and growth of autonomous watershed organizations within each of the 14 watersheds in the Basin. We then provide follow-up and assistance for each newly formed watershed association, as well as education and outreach programs for the general public.

The Watersheds Program focuses on each of the fourteen watersheds in the Cumberland River Basin - watershed by watershed, one at a time. Our process involves holding geographical focus groups to find out what the issues are in each particular watershed. If the stakeholders are interested, we then hold a series of 6-8 educational meetings and bring in experts who can talk about those issues. At each meeting, attendees have the opportunity to work together in small groups and begin to form relationships and problem solve. Thus far, when we have finished the series of educational meetings in each of the watersheds, stakeholders have decided to form their own local watershed organizations.