The Cumberland River Compact honored for its work this week cleaning up the Cumberland River, from the Upper Cumberland through Nashville.
Development and Communications Coordinator Meagan Hall said the Cumberland River Compact serves the entire Cumberland River Basin by improving the water quality. Hall said in the summer of 2024, the Cumberland River Compact Kayak fleet removed over 20,000 pounds of trash from the Cumberland River.
“You know, here in the Cumberland River Basin, there are about three million people and thousands of species that rely on clean water from the Cumberland River,” Hall said. “You know, and it’s really important that we all do our part to help keep this water clean.”
Hall said the non-profit’s goals go beyond just keeping the river clean. Hall said volunteer events also provide education to local people about the Cumberland River.
“It’s a great educational opportunity,” Hall said. “People can really get a good look at the banks of the stream, the plants that grow there, and then we pick up trash with some bags and litter grabbers along the way. I think it’s really important for people to connect with their waterways and to experience them.”
The Cumberland River Compact uses kayak fleets to pick up trash in hard-to-reach areas. Hall said the non-profit has several volunteer opportunities closer to Nashville, but the non-profit will offer a two-day teacher retreat this summer in Cookeville. Hall said the retreat will be available for all public school teachers that teach 6th-12th grade.
Hall said the Cumberland River Compact was the Middle-Tennessee non-profit recipient for the Governor’s Volunteer Awards. Hall said the non-profit was thrilled to receive the award and that the volunteers got the recognition they deserved.
“We really value our volunteer events,” Hall said. “We get a ton of people out into the community to interact with their creeks and streams over the year and so it’s just really nice to have that recognition from the governor that we are doing a good job connecting people with these waterways and helping them to realize the importance of them in their every day lives.”
