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River Talks

River Talks

By Cumberland River Compact

River Talks is an educational series presented by the Cumberland River Compact. River Talks features conversations with experts, artists, researchers, professionals, and characters from around the Cumberland River Basin and beyond. In each episode of River Talks we explore a new topic related to the health, enjoyment, and protection of the Cumberland River basin’s water, people, and special places. Join us as we explore the Cumberland River in each new episode.
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Nature-Friendly Spring Gardening (featuring Bates Nursery, UT Extension, and Tennessee Invasive Plant Council)

River TalksApr 06, 2021

00:00
01:00:26
Tennessee State University Wetland: An Urban Oasis in the Heart of Nashville (with Dr. Bill Sutton and Dr. Tom Byl TSU)

Tennessee State University Wetland: An Urban Oasis in the Heart of Nashville (with Dr. Bill Sutton and Dr. Tom Byl TSU)

Tucked in North Nashville on the campus of Tennessee State University sits one of the largest and most intact urban wetlands in Middle Tennessee. Referred to as the TSU wetland, this area drains a significant portion of North Nashville and filters harmful pollutants and sediments before the water enters the nearby Cumberland River. The wetland is a thriving ecosystem, providing a habitat for numerous aquatic frogs, turtles, and snakes, hunting grounds for bald eagles and blue herons, and a stopover for migrating neotropical birds. Nearby Tennessee State University students conduct research at the wetland and professors take their students outside for life-changing experiential education. Despite the many benefits of the TSU wetland for our community and environment, pressure to develop this remaining green space looms. 


Today on River Talks, we are joined by Tennessee State University faculty Dr. Tom Byl and Dr. Bill Sutton to share about the wetland and why it is crucial to ensure it remains intact. Dr. Bill Sutton is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Tennessee State University in the
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Sutton also runs the Wildlife Ecology Lab at TSU. Dr. Tom Byl is a Research Scientist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and has been stationed at Tennessee State University for 27 years. Through a special partnership between TSU and the USGS, Dr. Byl serves as a professor conducting research and teaching students at the University.

Apr 25, 202347:56
Planting Trees with Neighborhood Planting Captains in Nashville, TN (with Meg Morgan, Tranyce Parmer, and Danylo Lazarenko)
Mar 20, 202332:29
Agrarian Commons and the Importance of Land Access for Regenerative Agriculture (with Kristina Villa, The Agrarian Trust)

Agrarian Commons and the Importance of Land Access for Regenerative Agriculture (with Kristina Villa, The Agrarian Trust)

The implementation and growth of regenerative agriculture practices that heal the land and feed people rely on getting the land into the hands of people willing to implement these practices. Yet too often, land access is a barrier for many small and mid-sized farmers, and especially difficult for Black, Indigenous, and Farmers of Color. The issue of land access has only gotten more urgent as close to 4 million acres of land are about to change hands and land prices have skyrocketed. To address land access and to build and sustain the regenerative agriculture movement, it will take a radical reimagining and shift of thinking.

In today's River Talk, we sit down with Kristina Villa the Communications Director and Agrarian Commons Relationship and Strategy Specialist with Agrarian Trust. In our conversation, we discuss land access and how the Agrarian Commons model is pushing forward a new model of land ownership. Agrarian Trust is addressing the realities of farmland owner demographics, wealth disparities, farm viability, and all who are excluded and marginalized from land and food by holding farmland in community-centered commons and providing long-term, equitable land access for next generation farmers and ranchers.

Find more information on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2023/02/16/agrarian-commons-regenerative-agriculture/


Feb 16, 202337:26
Appalachia's Coal-Mining Legacy: Reforesting for the Future

Appalachia's Coal-Mining Legacy: Reforesting for the Future

The Appalachian Mountains serve many roles: important habitat for incredible biodiversity, inspiration for artists, and a destination for tourists. But many lands in Appalachia have also been working lands, driving economic prosperity in the region through industries like forestry and mining. For many decades, coal miners in Appalachia contributed greatly to the American workforce and to the industrial might of our country. But today, fewer and fewer jobs remain, and thousands of acres of surface-mined land sit barren or have been converted to gravelly grassland. Through a specific reforestation process known as the Forestry Reclamation Approach, formerly mined sites can be improved. After reforestation, these sites have higher biodiversity, can help to naturally clean and filter rainwater entering into nearby streams, and provide long-term economic benefits to surrounding communities. The future of Appalachian ecosystems and communities lies in our ability to reckon with these legacies of the past.

In this River Talk, you will hear from Cliff Drouet, a Forester with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, about the legacy of the coal industry in this region and what the future holds.


Dec 09, 202236:33
Hill's Island: An Exploration of the Past (with Dr. Learotha Williams Jr. Tennessee State University)

Hill's Island: An Exploration of the Past (with Dr. Learotha Williams Jr. Tennessee State University)

Join the Cumberland River Compact as we hear from Dr. Learotha Williams from Tennessee State University about the story of Hill’s Island.

Learn more about Hill's Island: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/explore/hills-island/

Hill’s Island–a space originally occupied by Native Americans—bears the name of one of the most revered slave traders in the antebellum South. Although largely inaccessible to the general public, is an area of the city that has an odd and mildly frenzied history. It became home to an enslaved African whose appearance frightened one of Nashville’s founding families and also served as a Lazaretto or quarantine station for enslaved Blacks who had recently arrived in Middle Tennessee. As an antebellum historical site, it sits in the Cumberland as a monument to Nashville’s first “Big Business.”

A century later it would become a recreational space for the city’s well-to-do population, leased out as a space that could host summer camps, and under the auspices of the Seven Day Adventist Church, its history would be closely associated with education and religion in the Athens of the South. This period in its history marks Nashville’s transition into a major Southern city.

Today Hill’s island sits in the Cumberland as one of the few pristine, undeveloped sites in the city. There is still much to learn about its antebellum past and the lives of Native Americans and enslaved Blacks who lived there, its role as a recreational space, and its overall role in the history of the Music City. As we consider its history in the 21st century Nashville, we grapple with how to reanimate and share these histories with new audiences.

This project is funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Additional Acknowledgments: Jasmine Spears of Tennessee State University, Tennessee State Museum staff of Jeff Sellers and Miranda Fraley, Aaron Deter-Wolf of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, Steve Haruch and Andrea Tudhope of WPLN, and Andrew Ostrowski of Pontoon Saloon (who helps bring us out the island!)

Previous episode about Hill's Island: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/06/16/tenngreen-land-conservancy-gifts-hills-island-to-cumberland-river-compact/

Nov 28, 202244:24
A Lifetime Dedication to Environmental Progress: A Conversation with Dodd Galbreath of Lipscomb University
Oct 24, 202250:38
PFAS in Tennessee - An Emerging Concern for Water Quality (with Erin Kanzig from River Network)

PFAS in Tennessee - An Emerging Concern for Water Quality (with Erin Kanzig from River Network)

Check our blog for full resources mentioned in this episode: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/09/21/pfas-tennessee/

You may never have heard of PFAS, but this emerging contaminant is getting more and more attention. Although it's considered "emerging", it's actually a chemical pollutant that has been around for decades, and remains in the environment as a "forever chemical". Research now links PFAS to many health issues and the public discourse around PFAS is increasing. Policies for PFAS regulation are becoming increasingly prevalent at the state level, while the federal government is developing its own framework for action.

In this River Talk, we are joined by Erin Kanzig who is the River Programs Policy and Research Associate at River Network and based in Detroit, Michigan. River Network is a national nonprofit that empowers and unites people and communities to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain all life. In this conversation, Erin helps us navigate the current PFAS landscape including regulations, health advisories, and federal funding.

Sep 21, 202234:35
Farmland Under Threat (feat. Brooks Lamb with American Farmland Trust)

Farmland Under Threat (feat. Brooks Lamb with American Farmland Trust)

Across the United States, 11 million acres of farmland have been lost from 2001 to 2016. In Tennessee, we lost around 650,000 acres with an additional 1 million acres of land projected to be converted by 2040. Much of the loss comes from the conversion of land to subdivisions and large-lot housing development. Beyond just agriculture, farmlands can provide economic, cultural, and social benefits to our communities. And when stewarded well, farmland can provide environmental benefits. Farmland loss particularly impacts our small and mid-sized farms and farmers. These threats to our farmlands can impact us all.

In today's River Talk, we are joined by Brooks Lamb, Program Associate and Specialist Assistant to the President at American Farmland Trust. Brooks shares about the current threats to America's farmland and what that means for us right here in Tennessee. We talk about the impacts on small and mid-sized farmers, and how connecting new farmers to land and to sustainable agricultural best practices can be a win-win.

Learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/08/23/farmland-under-threat-with-brooks-lamb-american-farmland-trust/

Aug 23, 202246:16
Hot in Here: Nashville's Urban Heat Island, Impacts, and Mitigation Efforts

Hot in Here: Nashville's Urban Heat Island, Impacts, and Mitigation Efforts

The Summer of 2022 is already the second hottest summer in Nashville on record. And it's not over yet. Urban areas like Nashville experience a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island Effect, which means temperatures are higher in the city than in surrounding rural areas. Vulnerable residents, such as children and the elderly, are at risk for heat illness when temperatures rise. Hot days aren't just a nuisance. They're dangerous. While it’s not always talked about, there are more heat-related deaths in the United States than deaths from floods, tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, and blizzards combined. The hottest parts of the city are areas that lack trees and green spaces, which naturally cool us down.

Nashville is one of 14 cities in the US participating in an urban heat mapping campaign this summer. Community scientists from across Nashville will have the opportunity to participate in the campaign to map hot spots across the city by driving pre-determined routes with sensors attached to their cars. The data will show the warmest and coolest spots in our city to help inform heat mitigation efforts by city public health and environmental officials, nonprofits, urban planners, urban foresters, and researchers.

Today's guests:

More information available on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/07/26/urban-heat-nashville/

Jul 26, 202241:38
Going on the Offense with Regenerative Agriculture (featuring Mitchell Hora and Jeremiah Durbin)

Going on the Offense with Regenerative Agriculture (featuring Mitchell Hora and Jeremiah Durbin)

Now more than ever, farmers are challenged with keeping valuable topsoil on fields, fostering soil that can retain water during periods of drought, and bringing back life to our soils so that they can provide for us long into the future. Healthy soils filter pollutants, store carbon, and infiltrate water, keeping our rivers and streams cleaner and healthier. The continual implementation of soil health practices is part of regenerative agriculture (sometimes referred to as RegenAg) that promotes farming in balance with what nature already does well.

The regenerative agriculture movement is not necessarily new and follows many practices that Indigenous communities have used for centuries. Common regenerative techniques that are part of the current movement include cover cropping, where crops are planted in the soil after a cash crop is harvested instead of leaving the soil bare, and no-till, which leaves the soil in place rather than plowing. These practices help maintain living roots in the soil, increase water infiltration, and improve future growth in those soils.

In this episode of River Talks, we are joined by two leading soil health entrepreneurs and innovators, Mitchell Hora and Jeremiah Durbin. Together, they share how we can scale-up the implementation of regenerative agriculture by going on the offense, using big data and technology, and leaning into a future of farming that helps companies, consumers, and growers meet both their environmental and profit goals.

https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/06/20/regenerative-sustainable-agriculture-tennessee/

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255. The Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. Text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

Jun 20, 202249:37
The Water Industry's Impending Silver Tsunami (with TN Assoc. Utility Districts, Pellissippi State, Cumberland River Compact, and TN STEM Innovation Network)

The Water Industry's Impending Silver Tsunami (with TN Assoc. Utility Districts, Pellissippi State, Cumberland River Compact, and TN STEM Innovation Network)

Clean and abundant water is provided to communities across the United States by skilled and trained environmental professionals. Yet the water workforce is facing an impending retirement crisis, with an expected 30 to 50 percent of the workforce retiring in the next decade. The crisis has reached emergency levels in many rural communities. At the same time, our water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure are in desperate need of reinvestment to be resilient for the future, and stricter guidelines are coming out to protect water.  Ensuring clean water is available to communities necessitates a highly-skilled, trained, and certified workforce.

The 2018 state water report, Tennessee H20, outlines the crisis we could face. It states that while protecting the availability of water in our state is important, “equal attention must be given to the critical need associated with a diminishing workforce charged with the maintenance, security, and growth of our infrastructure investment. The state is quickly reaching the disturbing point of not having a sufficient number of operators to protect, manage, and maintain these systems in the future.

In today's River Talk, we dive into the water workforce crisis and its impacts on our state, plus we explore how to connect young people to these rewarding STEM careers. Our guests on the podcast include Kevin Byrd from the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, Cristina Carbajo with the Water Quality Technology Program at Pellissippi State Community College, Misty Brown with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, and, of course, the Cumberland River Compact. These diverse partners come together in a unique collaborative approach to addressing the water workforce crisis and to providing clean water for Tennesseeans.

May 06, 202239:44
Mack Prichard: Collected Stories from Tennessee's "Conservation Conscience"

Mack Prichard: Collected Stories from Tennessee's "Conservation Conscience"

The Cumberland River Compact is pleased to collaborate with Tennessee State Parks and the Mack Prichard Legacy Project to present this special episode of River Talks to celebrate the legacy of Mack Prichard. This special episode of River Talks will introduce you to Mack Prichard in honor of Mack Prichard Day on March 31st.

For some listeners, the name Mack Prichard is synonymous with Tennessee’s environment. For other the name may be new. But if you have stepped foot in a Tennessee State Park, Natural Area, or really any conserved land in our state, you can probably thank Mack for making your experience possible. Mack Prichard was known as The Conservation Conscience” of Tennessee and had a wide and lasting influence on Tennessee's environmental heritage.

In this episode, you will hear some details about Mack's life, but most importantly, you will hear stories collected from his family, friends, and colleagues about Mack the conservationist, Mack the environmental advocate, and Mack the friend.

The Cumberland River Compact extends our deepest gratitude to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mack Prichard who generously shared their stories with us.

https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/03/23/mack-prichard-collected-stories-from-tennessees-conservation-conscience/



Mar 23, 202218:47
The Cumberland River: Nashville's Most Important Asset (with David Ewing)

The Cumberland River: Nashville's Most Important Asset (with David Ewing)

Summary:

"The river belongs to all of us. We are a river city. It is part of our identity even if we do not see it much". - David Ewing

The Cumberland River is a powerful and important waterway that connects Nashville with the region, supplies water to the area, and continues to be a mode of transportation. In this River Talk, we hear from local historian David Ewing about the history of the river and how it was literally responsible for the founding and growth of Nashville. Hear stories about how it froze, flooded, and how the Cumberland River put Nashville on the map. While sometimes ignored the Cumberland has been a driving force for the growth and development in Nashville.

This podcast is pre-recorded audio from a lecture from David Ewing in September 2021. You will hear him occasionally mention photos or images.

See more on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/02/21/the-cumberland-river-nashvilles-most-important-asset-with-david-ewing/

About David Ewing:

David Ewing is a ninth generation Nashvillian, historian and tour guide. He runs an upscale private history tour company called Nashville History On Tour. The Nashville Scene in 2017 named him “Best Historian”.  In 2018 the Nashville Scene named his Instagram page “The Nashville I Wish I Knew” the “Best Nashville Instagram Page” which has over 20,000 followers. In 2021 Mayor John Cooper said David Ewing is one of Nashville’s greatest historians.

David is a graduate of Connecticut College and Vanderbilt School of Law. David previously was SVP of Government and Community Relations for the Nashville Chamber and held that same role at Gaylord Entertainment.  David has served on boards of the Metro Historical Commission, Metro Historic Zoning Commission, Cheekwood, The Nashville Symphony, The Nashville Opera, The Hermitage and Travelers Rest.  He is a graduate of Leadership Nashville, Leadership Middle Tennessee, Young Leaders Council and Leadership Donelson Hermitage.

Feb 21, 202239:38
Gone But Not Forgotten: The History and Influence of Port Royal in the Red River Region (with State Park Ranger Bobby Cooley)

Gone But Not Forgotten: The History and Influence of Port Royal in the Red River Region (with State Park Ranger Bobby Cooley)

Along the banks of the Red River in Adams, TN sits the remnants of an influential, yet sometimes forgotten town: Port Royal. The town heritage is now stewarded by Tennessee State Parks. At only 30-acres, Port Royal State Park is the second smallest State Park in Tennessee but the area had a big and historic influence on our state. The town rose in prominence as an important commercial hub in the newly founded state of Tennessee. But you did not have to live in Port Royal to experience it. Businesses relied on Port Royal's waterway connections to larger towns, enslaved people built the structures, and thousands of Cherokee were forcibly marched through the town as part of the Trail of Tears.

In this River Talk, we are joined by Port Royal State Park Ranger Bobby Cooley to explore the history and influence of Port Royal. Woven throughout the story of Port Royal is the influence of one waterway, the Red River, on the growth of the town.

Learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2022/01/24/port-royal-tennessee/

Jan 24, 202248:11
Underwater Rainforests of Life: Stories of Southeastern Biodiversity (with. Dr. Anna George, Tennessee Aquarium)

Underwater Rainforests of Life: Stories of Southeastern Biodiversity (with. Dr. Anna George, Tennessee Aquarium)

The rivers and streams of the southeastern United States feature astounding biodiversity, warranting the nickname of "underwater rainforests" of life. From the colorful tangerine darter to the charismatic river chub and the prehistoric sturgeon, you can find a little bit of everything in our waterways. Yet we also know these species are threatened by the regular culprits of water pollution, habitat alteration, invasive species, and overfishing. In this episode of River Talks, we explore the stories of these underwater rainforests with Dr. Anna George the Vice President of Conservation Science and Education at the Tennessee Aquarium. The Tennessee Aquarium connects people to nature with a particular focus on celebrating, preserving, and restoring biodiversity in the southeast.

Learn more about what was mentioned in this episode: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/12/20/underwater-rainforests-biodiversity-anna-george/

Support the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/

Dec 20, 202151:18
Innovative Stream Restoration in Mansker Creek (with Adam Spiller and Zach Mryncza, KCI Technologies)

Innovative Stream Restoration in Mansker Creek (with Adam Spiller and Zach Mryncza, KCI Technologies)

Across the Cumberland River basin, the Cumberland River Compact implements innovative stream restoration in vital ecosystems. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2021–2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Decade positions the restoration of ecosystems as a major nature-based solution towards meeting a wide range of global development goals and national priorities. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet - and its people.

The Cumberland River Compact addresses the root causes of water quality issues often through restoration. Our goals with restoration are to mimic nature, protect vital habitat, and replenish stream flows. Depending on the situation, we use a variety of techniques to do this from green infrastructure to dam removals to streambank stabilization. We complement our restoration work with community engagement across a watershed to address these issues on a broader level.

Mansker Creek is a well-known and well-loved stream in Goodlettsville, TN, that meanders through neighborhoods and communities before entering the Cumberland River near Moss-Wright Park. Like many of our urban streams, Mansker Creek has several water quality impairments, including high levels of sediment and pathogens. As with many other watersheds, heavy urbanization and increased runoff in the area created conditions of severe bank erosion in parts of Mansker Creek, contributing to sedimentation in the creek among other problems. To address the problem, we worked with the City of Goodlettsville and KCI Technologies to repair the eroded bank in Moss Wright Park.

In this podcast, Will Caplenor, Field Operations Supervisor with the Cumberland River Compacts, speaks to Adam Spiller and Zach Mryncza with KCI Technologies about this stream restoration project and how it addressed the root causes of water quality issues in Mansker Creek. We explore the process of restoration and how these projects can make our streams more resilient into the future.


See all the details about this post on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/10/15/stream-restoration-mansker-creek-tennessee/

Nov 23, 202137:06
Climate Change Risk and Resilience in Middle Tennessee (with Dr. Janey Camp)

Climate Change Risk and Resilience in Middle Tennessee (with Dr. Janey Camp)

Climate change comes with ample risks to Middle Tennessee, but there is also the opportunity to build resilience in the face of these changes. We know climate change in Middle Tennessee brings more extreme heat and severe storms, which will lead to more frequent and devasting flooding. And we already see these impacts in both urban and rural Tennessee communities. In this episode of River Talks, we are joined by Dr. Janey Camp from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Camp studies the interactions between nature and man-made systems, with a particular focus on identifying risk in key areas. Dr. Camp shares the unique climate vulnerabilities in our rural communities, the ways climate change serves as a threat multiplier, and how critical infrastructure like roads and energy systems, can be impacted by climate events.

See the full blog post about this episode. 

About Dr. Janey Camp:

Dr. Janey Camp is a Research Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University. She has a broad range of interests but is ultimately interested in studying the interactions of nature and man-made systems utilizing geospatial technologies. This includes modeling future flooding and the potential impacts on communities and infrastructure systems to identify key risk areas. In addition, she is involved in several interdisciplinary projects focused on infrastructure system adaptation to climate change, risk management and also STEM integration into education. Dr. Camp was recently selected as a co-author for the 5th National Climate Assessment. 

In this podcast:
  • What might we expect to see with climate change in Middle Tennessee?
  • How is climate change a threat multiplier in Middle Tennessee?
  • What do the climate impacts look like in rural Tennessee?
  • What are some examples of our critical infrastructure that may be impacted by climate change?
  • How will our growing and changing population in Middle Tennessee affect how climate change impacts us moving forward?
  • What do you envision when you think of a climate-resilient future for Middle Tennessee?
Oct 26, 202136:48
Discovering and Preserving our Most Imperiled Aquatic Biodiversity with Conservation Fisheries (ft. J.R. Shute and Pat Rakes)

Discovering and Preserving our Most Imperiled Aquatic Biodiversity with Conservation Fisheries (ft. J.R. Shute and Pat Rakes)

Childhoods spent exploring creeks, streams, and ponds inspired a lifelong dedication to protect aquatic biodiversity for JR Shute and Pat Rakes. Together they founded Conservation Fisheries a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of aquatic biodiversity in streams and rivers, particularly in the Southeast. In today's episode of River Talks, JR and Pat join Cumberland River Compact Program Manager Jed Grubbs to share their wealth of natural history knowledge about the rare and imperiled species that call our waters home. Together they share why our region is so biodiverse, the unique life history of freshwater mussels, and the delicate dance between the endangered Barren's Topminnows and the pervasive mosquito fish. Plus, you will hear about how an upcoming stream restoration project with the Cumberland River Compact is protecting crucial habitat for the Barren's Topminnow in Coffee County.

Full episode details available on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2021/09/28/discovering-and-preserving-our-most-imperiled-aquatic-biodiversity-with-conservations-fisheries/

Sep 28, 202148:25
The Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tennessee and Beyond (ft. Matthew Gailani and Amanda McCrary Smith with the Tennessee State Museum)

The Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tennessee and Beyond (ft. Matthew Gailani and Amanda McCrary Smith with the Tennessee State Museum)

From 1933 to 1942 thousands of men across Tennessee created some of our most treasured outdoor places like our Tennessee State Parks and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. These men were part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal-era program to employ and train young men to complete projects in support of the environment and conservation. Across our state and country, the impact of this program can still be seen today.

In this episode of River Talks, we talk with Matthew Gailani and Amanda McCrary Smith from the Tennessee State Museum. Matthew is a museum curator and Amanda is the curator of Textiles and Fashion. Together they share the history and impacts of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Tennessee and beyond. Finally, we will share how history may be repeating itself with the Civilian Climate Corps.

Aug 23, 202142:49
Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice (featuring Rachael Hood)

Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice (featuring Rachael Hood)

Climate change is one of the most pressing problems faced by today’s global community. Across the United States, we see constant reminders that climate change is here: record heat in the Pacific Northwest, wildlife smoke that hazes the air in Tennessee, or 100-year flood events happening way more frequently than expected.

And climate change is not just an environmental issue: it’s a social, cultural, economic, and political issue. Today’s climate movement is centering justice and equity in its approaches to solutions.

Young people did not cause the problem of climate change, but across the world, they are becoming some of the most vocal advocates for change. Youth, like Greta Thunberg, are household names and are using their voices to stand up to world leaders with calls for action. And more and more young people are finding their place in the climate movement.

In today’s episode of River Talks, we talk with Rachael Hood, an organizer with Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice. Rachael is a Master’s Student at West Virginia University and is one of several young people who recently started Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice to address climate change across Appalachia. We chat about climate justice, climate change in Appalachia, and the work her group is tackling in the region.

About Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice

Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice connects youth organizers working on transformative climate justice across the region. You can keep up to date with their work on Twitter and Instagram or reach out via email (youthforacj@gmail.com).

In this podcast:
  • What is Youth for Appalachian Climate Justice and how did it get started?
  • What is climate justice?
  • Why is it important to have a space exclusively for Appalachian youth?
  • What are the climate impacts in Appalachia?
  • What is the petrochemical buildout in Appalachia and what are the impacts?
  • How can you support climate justice in Appalachia?
Jul 27, 202129:09
Hill's Island: An Inspiring Nashville Island is Gifted to the Compact (featuring Kaaren May, Tara Armistead, Alice Hudson Pell, and Christie Henderson)

Hill's Island: An Inspiring Nashville Island is Gifted to the Compact (featuring Kaaren May, Tara Armistead, Alice Hudson Pell, and Christie Henderson)

As Nashville continues to grow, properties along the banks of the Cumberland River have become coveted parcels of land for developers. There are plans to dramatically change several areas of the riverfront in the coming years, but one section will remain untouched, and under the continued stewardship of a conservation group. The TennGreen Land Conservancy has generously gifted Hill’s Island, located on the river in Madison, to the Cumberland River Compact.

Hill’s Island is a 20-acre parcel of wooded land that stretches nearly a half-mile, creating a channel on the western side of the island. The area attracts a variety of wildlife, such as nesting birds and deer, along with various trees and plant life.

Hill’s Island had been under the ownership of TennGreen Land Conservancy (formerly the Tennessee Parks and & Greenways Foundation) since 2006. TennGreen is the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee and will continue to help landowners and communities to protect large connected natural areas.

In the years following TennGreen’s acquisition of the island, the organization planned to use the land as an outdoor classroom and wilderness park. These plans reflected both the values of keeping the land wild and rustic, while also providing a unique and responsibly managed educational venue for the community to build a stronger connection to the Cumberland River, along with the species residents who rely on it. TennGreen approached the Cumberland River Compact with this vision after determining the endeavor laid outside its primary mission.

The Compact acquired Hill’s Island in June 2021 and looks forward to continuing to explore the opportunities to share the island for education, research, and recreation as well as become deeply familiar with the island’s historical significance.


Jun 16, 202146:03
Urban Streams: Challenges and Opportunities

Urban Streams: Challenges and Opportunities

Criss-crossing our city are thousands of miles of urban streams that we see near our homes, on our way to work or school. These urban streams are often highly visible and open peoples’ eyes to the beauty and wonder of water.

But urban streams also face water quality challenges as they flow through densely populated urban areas. In this River Talk, we speak with Mary Bruce and Michael Hunt from Metro Water Services about the urban stream syndrome along with some of the opportunities to make improvements in our urban waters. Then we’ll chat with Gray Perry and Will Caplenor with the Cumberland River Compact about a current restoration project in the Brown’s Creek watershed and how we use science and data to inform our innovative restoration work.

There are many ways that you can get involved in caring for urban streams. You can easily learn the name of the closest stream near you with the Cumberland River Compact’s tool iCreek. Or come out and volunteer with us! Our Brown’s Creek project will have several volunteer opportunities coming up where you can get involved in this work. Join us on Saturdays in June to DePave an old parking lot near Brown's Creek. Check out our volunteer calendar for all the upcoming opportunities. You can even adopt a stream near you to commit to be a steward for your local urban stream. 

The Cumberland River Compact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in Tennessee and Kentucky. Your donation today will help us ensure that the Cumberland Basin continues to enjoy the precious resource of clean and abundant freshwater. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ 


May 04, 202101:00:15
Backyard Biodiversity (featuring Kim Bailey and Richard Hitt)

Backyard Biodiversity (featuring Kim Bailey and Richard Hitt)

The Cumberland River watershed is part of the third most biodiverse freshwater in the world. Thousands of species rely on the land and waters in our region. Yet across the world biodiversity is declining at unprecedented and alarming rates. When many of us think about where wildlife lives, we probably picture wide-open parklands, protected national parks, and remote areas away from people. But biodiversity is also found right near our cities.

From April 30-May 3rd Nashville is one of over 400 cities around the world participating in the City Nature Challenge. During this one-weekend, people across the world get out to find, observe and share wildlife in their city. By using the app iNaturalist, these observations help scientists around the world understand what’s happening with biodiversity. You can find all the details about the event on our website. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/event/city-nature-challenge-2021-nashville/.

In today’s episode, we talk with two biodiversity experts. First up, we’ll hear from Kim Bailey, a lifelong nature enthusiast and naturalist extraordinaire with Warner Park Nature Center. She’ll share more about how you can explore biodiversity in our cities. Then we hear from Richard Hitt, with the local chapter of WildOnes. Richard will share about what we can do in our own backyards to make them great habitat for Tennessee biodiversity.

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

Native Plant Finder: https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/

Field Guide to Insects of North America: http://www.kaufmanfieldguides.com/insects.html

Butterflies of Tennessee: https://ritavenable.com/?page_id=22

Wildflowers of Tennessee: The Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wildflowers-of-tennessee-the-ohio-valley-and-the-southern-appalachians-dennis-horn/1100003358

A Field Guide to Eastern Trees: Eastern United States and Canada, Including the Midwest: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-field-guide-to-eastern-trees-roger-tory-peterson/1119268741

Apr 20, 202136:33
Nature-Friendly Spring Gardening (featuring Bates Nursery, UT Extension, and Tennessee Invasive Plant Council)
Apr 06, 202101:00:26
Water as a Human Right: Ep 4. Time to Thrive

Water as a Human Right: Ep 4. Time to Thrive

Clean, accessible, and affordable water is a human right, but challenges across our water system impact how that right is realized. Aging infrastructure impacts the ability to provide water, contaminants of emerging concern impact safe water, and the cost of water burdens some populations more than others.

Throughout our series, we have seen the ways that water issues today are connected to what has been done in the past. Since our present will soon become the past, we know the decisions we make today will influence people from decades. So how can we ensure we thrive in the future?

We would like to thank Humanities Tennessee for their support of this series. Humanities Tennessee is a non-profit organization that fosters community and civility in Tennessee through engaging programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture. https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/

Learn more about the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/

The Cumberland River Compact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in Tennessee and Kentucky. Your donation today will help us ensure that the Cumberland Basin continues to enjoy the precious resource of clean and abundant freshwater. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ 

This project was funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Music: Courtesy of the Artist

Mar 16, 202134:39
Water as a Human Right: Ep. 3 Challenges to our Water

Water as a Human Right: Ep. 3 Challenges to our Water

Challenges to our water system are nothing new. In the early days of our cities, the distribution and access to drinking water was a challenge. Today, we still see issues from aging infrastructure to emerging contaminants that impact water. In this episode, we’re going to go deeper into some of the present challenges to water and what we are seeing for the future. We’ll consider how these challenges impact whether water is water safe, sufficient, and accessible. And finally, we’ll look closer at the last component of water as a human right: affordability.

Information on water rate structures was gathered from River Network's Drinking Water Guide. Available here: https://www.rivernetwork.org/connect-learn/resources/drinking-water-guide/ 

We would like to thank Humanities Tennessee for their support of this series. Humanities Tennessee is a non-profit organization that fosters community and civility in Tennessee through engaging programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture. https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/

Learn more about the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/

The Cumberland River Compact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in Tennessee and Kentucky. Your donation today will help us ensure that the Cumberland Basin continues to enjoy the precious resource of clean and abundant freshwater. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ 

This project was funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Music: Courtesy of the Artist

Mar 09, 202119:40
Water as a Human Right: Ep 2. The Water System

Water as a Human Right: Ep 2. The Water System

Water is central to life as a Tennessean. From industry to recreation and tourism, we use water in many ways. And of course, we need water to drink, clean, and bathe. Yet we often don't think about what it takes for our water to get to us. In this episode, we’ll explore our water system: the source of our waterways, the distribution systems, and how water is budgeted for its many uses. We will consider how Tennessee’s challenges to safe, sufficient, and accessible water impact how water as a human right is championed in our state.

We would like to thank Humanities Tennessee for their support of this series. Humanities Tennessee is a non-profit organization that fosters community and civility in Tennessee through engaging programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture. https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/

Learn more about the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/

The Cumberland River Compact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in Tennessee and Kentucky. Your donation today will help us ensure that the Cumberland Basin continues to enjoy the precious resource of clean and abundant freshwater. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ 

This project was funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Music: Courtesy of the Artist

Mar 02, 202122:35
Water as a Human Right: Ep 1. History of Water in Tennessee

Water as a Human Right: Ep 1. History of Water in Tennessee

From a young age, water brings a sense of wonder and joy. Even as our childhood wonder of water may fade, water continues to be ever-present in our lives. In 2010, the human right to water was officially recognized by the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council. In this season of River Talks, we are exploring water as a human right and how this has been championed and challenged in our state. We will take a close look at the past, present, and future of water in Tennessee through four episodes that weave together the perspectives from a variety of experts in water access, water distribution, and water equity. Throughout this series, we will de-construct current issues and develop a collective understanding for a path forward.

In our first episode, we explore the history of water in Tennessee and how decisions of the past have implications today. 

We would like to thank Humanities Tennessee for their support of this series. Humanities Tennessee is a non-profit organization that fosters community and civility in Tennessee through engaging programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture. https://www.humanitiestennessee.org/

Learn more about the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/

The Cumberland River Compact is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to enhance the health and enjoyment of the Cumberland River and its tributaries in Tennessee and Kentucky. Your donation today will help us ensure that the Cumberland Basin continues to enjoy the precious resource of clean and abundant freshwater. https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ 

This project was funded in part by a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Music: AudioJungle & Courtesy of the Artist

Feb 23, 202123:22
Notes on Nature

Notes on Nature

Nature has long been a muse of artists. And art inspired by nature is a powerful tool to communicate about the joy of nature exploration, the sorrow of environmental change, and the hope of our future.

To inspire young nature writers, the Cumberland River Compact recently partnered with Student Literary Artists of Nashville (SLANT), a youth program from the non-profit The Porch, to host a student writing competition, Notes on Nature. For this competition, student writers explored nature through a scientific investigation and then used their close observation of nature to create their own original piece of writing. A panel of experts selected 6 pieces of writing from over 90 entries to digitally publish on our blog. And today we are excited to share the audio of the short stories and poems from these talented Middle Tennessee students. If you’d like to follow along or read the pieces featured, you can visit our blog at Cumberland River Compact.org/Blog

Support the Cumberland River Compact through a Donation: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/ 

Jan 12, 202132:56
Life in Balance: Biodiversity in the Cumberland River Basin
Dec 29, 202016:05
The Challenges, Vision, and Leadership that Launched EPA 50 Years Ago

The Challenges, Vision, and Leadership that Launched EPA 50 Years Ago

On December 2, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated its 50th anniversary. In this bonus episode River Talks we hear from Paul Davis on the challenges, vision, and leadership that launched the EPA. Paul Davis is a member of Cumberland River Compact’s Board of Directors. His career was with Tennessee’s Water Pollution Control Agency where he was state director for 24 years. Since leaving government service, Paul teaches classes on Clean Water Act programs through the National Stormwater Center.

Read the article on our blog: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/2020/12/02/the-challenges-vision-and-leadership-that-launched-epa-50-years-ago/

Support the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/donate/

Dec 15, 202011:46
Telling the Story of Nature’s Unknowns (featuring Brooke Jarvis)

Telling the Story of Nature’s Unknowns (featuring Brooke Jarvis)

Dec 01, 202035:42
Regenerative Agriculture in the Fight Against Climate Change with Caney Fork Farms

Regenerative Agriculture in the Fight Against Climate Change with Caney Fork Farms

Do you know where your favorite food comes from? We all eat, yet people are often disconnected from where their food comes from and how it gets produced. We may not realize the harmful impacts of what we eat on the environment and our climate. But agriculture can also be a powerful tool to protect our environment and mitigate climate change. Through implementation of sustainable best management practices, farms across the world have the power to make a big impact.

In Tennessee, Caney Fork Farms is a leader in carbon farming and other practices to address the climate crisis. In this River Talk, the Cumberland River Compact’s Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager Nicholle Gerde joins Ranan Sokoloff the Vegetable and Agroforestry Manager with Caney Fork Farms to discuss their innovative practices and approach.

Resources shared during the conversation: 

Book Recommendations

Cooperative Farming: 

Articles:

Food Justice: 

Ranan's Recommendations:

Nov 17, 202043:19
World Class Kayaking in Tennessee and Beyond (featuring Dane Jackson)
Nov 03, 202045:09
Reforestation of Appalachia’s Mine Lands (featuring Dr. Chris Barton)

Reforestation of Appalachia’s Mine Lands (featuring Dr. Chris Barton)

Across Appalachia, thousands of acres of formerly mined land sits barren or has been converted to gravelly grassland. These sites were once home to thriving forest ecosystems and some of our region’s most astounding biodiversity. Through a specific reforestation process known as the Forestry Reclamation Approach, these sites can be improved by removing invasive and non-native plants, loosening compacted soil, and finally planting a mix of native trees. After reforestation, these sites have higher biodiversity, help naturally clean and filter rainwater entering into nearby streams, and provide long-term economic benefits to the communities they surround.

In this River Talk, Cumberland River Compact Executive Director Mekayle Houghton and Senior Program Manager of Watershed Planning, Jed Grubbs, join Dr. Chris Barton with Green Forests Work to discuss this approach in the region. Chris Barton is the Founder and President of Green Forests Work, a non-profit restoration group, and also a professor of forestry hydrology and watershed management at the University of Kentucky. Through these dual roles, Chris leads research efforts and on-the-ground action to restore mine lands throughout Appalachia.

Support the Cumberland River Compact's River Talks program: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/get-involved/donate/

Send us your thoughts on this episode! Email us at rivertalks@cumberlandrivercompact.org or leave us a voicemail at 615-933-8837

Learn more about what was shared in this episode. 

Chris Barton’s Research

Forest Reclamation Act

Green Jobs

Blue Heron Historic Mining Community

Kentucky Coal Museum 

American Chestnut Foundation 

Cumberland River Compact’s Recreation Map

Big South Fork 

How to Grow Truffles 



Oct 21, 202043:26
Throwing Shade: Environmental Injustice and the Urban Tree Canopy (featuring Dr. Jeremy Hoffman)

Throwing Shade: Environmental Injustice and the Urban Tree Canopy (featuring Dr. Jeremy Hoffman)

The cool shade of a tree is a welcome relief on a hot day. But in cities across the United States, tree cover is not equally distributed between neighborhoods. All cities experience the urban heat island effect, where cities are warmer than the surrounding rural areas due to the way urban surfaces, like parking lots and buildings, absorb heat. However, within cities themselves, some neighborhoods are hotter, and this discrepancy is often directly linked to urban tree cover. A recent study further linked today’s hottest neighborhoods to the historic and inequitable practice of redlining. 

In this River Talk, the Cumberland River Compact’s Root Nashville Campaign Manager Meg Morgan joins Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, Chief Scientist with the Science Museum of Virginia, to learn about his groundbreaking work on the connections between historic redlining, urban heat, and urban trees, and the implications for how we make equitable, inclusive, and just decisions for our community moving forward.

Dr. Jeremy Hoffman is the Chief Scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia and an Affiliate Faculty in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Jeremy specializes in Earth science communication, data-driven and community-based participatory science, and science center exhibit content development. His work has been written about in the New York Times, National Public Radio (NPR), Richmond Magazine, the Richmond Times Dispatch, UPWORTHY, and many others.

Support the Cumberland River Compact's River Talks program: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/get-involved/donate/

Send us your thoughts on this episode! Email us at rivertalks@cumberlandrivercompact.org or leave us a voicemail at 615-933-8837


Learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode:

Redlining Map of Nashville

Article: “How Decades of Racist Housing Policy Left Neighborhoods Sweltering” 

NASA and Groundwork Map Climate Vulnerability 

Video: Urban Heat Islands

Community Science and Urban Heat Project 

Park in a Truck City of Philadelphia 

Root Nashville Neighborhood Planting Captain program 

99 Percent Invisible, Podcast 

Not Built for Us, Podcast 

Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago 

Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, Documentary

Oct 07, 202040:52
Black Faces, White Spaces: Systemic Racism and the Environment (featuring Dr. Carolyn Finney)

Black Faces, White Spaces: Systemic Racism and the Environment (featuring Dr. Carolyn Finney)

In May 2020, George Floyd was murdered by police in Minnesota. Within the same week, Christian Cooper, a Black man, avid birder, and member of the New York City Audubon Society was birding in Central Park when a white woman called the New York City police on him after he asked her to leash her dog. In her phone call to police, she portrayed Cooper as a threatening black man. As these events unfolded simultaneously, many people working in outdoor and environmental spaces reckoned with the traditional centering of white experiences in nature and the role that systemic racism has played in the environmental movement.

In her book, “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors”, Dr. Carolyn Finney explores why African Americans are underrepresented in environmental movements.

In this River Talk, Cumberland River Compact Executive Director Mekayle Houghton joins Carolyn Finney for a conversation on the historic and lived experiences that have brought us to where the environmental movement is today and how we can build a more inclusive, equitable and just future.

Dr. Carolyn Finney is a storyteller, author and a cultural geographer whose work aims to develop greater cultural competency within environmental organizations, challenge media outlets on their representation of difference, and increase awareness of how privilege shapes who gets to speak to environmental issues and determine policy and action.  She is currently a scholar-in-residence at Middlebury College’s Franklin Environmental Center.

Read more about Carolyn Finney and purchase her book at her website: https://www.carolynfinney.com/

Support the Cumberland River Compact's River Talks program: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/get-involved/donate/

Send us your thoughts on this episode! Email us at rivertalks@cumberlandrivercompact.org or leave us a voicemail at 615-933-8837


Learn More about the Resources Dr. Carolyn Finney Shared:

Carolyn Finney's TED Talk

MaVynee Betsch / The Beach Lady  

John Francis

Audrey and Frank Peterman

Rue Mapp and Outdoor Afro

Angelou Ezeilo and Greening Youth

Lovecraft Country

Sundown Towns

Orion Magazine

"I Am Not Your Negro" Documentary Film

Article: "Liberal, progressive — and racist? The Sierra Club faces its white-supremacist history."

Robert Hanna's Podcast with Carolyn Finney


Sep 23, 202054:22
Innovative Approaches to Litter Collection: An Interview with Vanderbilt University Engineering Students
May 28, 202026:34
Archaeology All Around Us: An Interview with Pre-historic Archaeologist Aaron Deter-Wolf
May 21, 202039:34
 Here Comes the Sun: A Solar Energy Conversation with Jason Carney
May 14, 202028:54
Nashville's Stories: An Interview with Dr. Carole Bucy
May 07, 202034:43
10 Years Since the Flood: Nashville's Resilient Response
Apr 30, 202001:04:24
An Interview with Annie Goodhue: Retired Aquatic Biologist
Apr 23, 202025:49
Mississippian Hero Twins of the Cumberland River
Feb 26, 202057:59
Going for Gold: Metro Water's Biosolids Program

Going for Gold: Metro Water's Biosolids Program

Learn how Nashville reclaims water and valuable nutrients from the wastewater treatment process and generates methane gas for energy use. This sustainable recycling process benefits the neighborhood, the environment, and the local economy.

Using naturally occurring microbes, the biosolids facility produces an organically rich, slow-release fertilizer, called
Music City Gold, used by farmers and home gardeners to improve the health of the soil.

Sonia Allman with Metro Water Services will explain the complete process and how it benefits the environment and contributes to the livability of surrounding neighborhoods and the downtown section of the Cumberland River Greenway.

Support River Talks today by donating to the Cumberland River Compact: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/get-involved/donate/

Feb 26, 202042:55
Greenways: A Path to Mobility, Health, and Economic Investment
Feb 26, 202044:38
Stories and Lessons from an Antarctic Adventure // John Guider

Stories and Lessons from an Antarctic Adventure // John Guider

Follow John's Talk with his photo presentation.

In December 2018, John Guider boarded the 100-year-old, 3 masted sailing vessel Bark Europa as part of the volunteer crew and sailed over 2400 nautical miles to the frigid waters of Antarctica. The Europa was able to access remote bays, too small for the larger cruise ships and enabled landings to view the nesting grounds of the Continent's unique summer inhabitants. Many of the species are in danger of extinction due to the effects of climate change. In this episode, we hear stories from his journey crossing the famed Drake Passage and connect how our actions in relation to the environment can affect the landscape and well being of its wildlife halfway around the word.


Donate to support River Talks programming and the River Talks podcast today: https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/get-involved/donate/

Feb 12, 202055:31
Tennessee’s Historic Bridges: TDOT’s Historic Preservation Successes

Tennessee’s Historic Bridges: TDOT’s Historic Preservation Successes

DONATE: https://crc.kindful.com/?campaign=1038309

Follow along with the presentation slides referenced in this talk: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1filwmHq24B8uqAV4HqaA14W8nzGltNUx/view

Did you know that TDOT historians work to save historic bridges on the state’s roadway network?  Tammy Sellers, a historian with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, will discuss historic bridge preservation in Tennessee by telling the stories of several of the historic bridges throughout the state that have been preserved by TDOT.  These preservation successes range from the only Baltimore-Petit Truss bridge remaining in the southeast to an early concrete arch bridge built by the state highway department.  Learn the stories of these bridges and the efforts TDOT has made in preserving these unique pieces of history that we drive over daily.

Nov 15, 201947:24
Tennessee's Sustainable Spirits, with Jackalope Brewery & Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Tennessee's Sustainable Spirits, with Jackalope Brewery & Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

DONATE: https://crc.kindful.com/?campaign=1038309

If you would like to follow along with the presentation slides, you can do so here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzf_uxReF_ioUXhBNmh1Mkx3WnVfRlNON2lDSjdzMi1WcUFB/view

Tennessee is home to world-class whiskey, wine, beer, and other fine spirits. The craft spirit producer's connection to the people, land, and resources is a relationship in which sustainability plays a vital role. Tennessee Sustainable Spirits is a voluntary recognition and technical assistance program administered by TDEC which seeks to reduce operational costs and environmental impacts for wineries and winegrowers, breweries, and distilleries as well as serve as a gateway to sustainability education through popular brands.

This talk covers the ways the breweries can prioritize sustainability with the help of programs like Tennessee Sustainable Spirits, from water conservation to energy, to packaging and more. Are you a homebrewer or just like local wine, brews, and spirits? This talk is for you too! Learn some tips for small scale operations, and how to buy more sustainable products. 

https://cumberlandrivercompact.org/events/river-talks/

Nov 11, 201948:01
The Taming of the Cumberland: A Brief History of Floods, Locks, and Dams on the Cumberland River and its Tributaries

The Taming of the Cumberland: A Brief History of Floods, Locks, and Dams on the Cumberland River and its Tributaries

DONATE: https://crc.kindful.com/?campaign=1038309

If you would like to follow along with the presenter's slides you can do so here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iqx5oUMhiVIo0OS59zOaPl0gnfK7nYZm/view

Annual flooding was a fact of life that early settlers had to contend with. As early as 1841, concerned Nashville citizens were holding meetings to develop a plan to construct a canal and a lock and dam above the city  to improve navigation, create water power for manufacturing, and decrease flooding.  The  editors of “The Nashville Daily Gazette” called for finding a way to “arrest the annual destruction of property, and the distress and misery”  caused by flooding.  The responsibility for doing this fell to the  Army Corps of Engineers.  After the Civil War,  the Corps  began to consider ways to make the channel of the river deeper for year-round navigation and prevent flooding  that included building a series of locks and dams  that could be raised and lowered as needed.  Thus began the taming of the Cumberland.

Nov 04, 201958:38