cumberland river compact

Climate Change Challenge: increased precipitation

Grant Award: $171,189; Year Awarded: 2016

Mill Creek is a rapidly developing urban watershed in middle Tennessee that is being converted into impervious surfaces like roads and rooftops, which change the natural hydrology, increasing the volume of runoff and reducing groundwater recharge, resulting in more frequent flooding, higher flood peaks, lower baseflow in streams, and lower water table levels. Predicted climate changes such as extreme storms, rising temperatures and drought will increase these impacts. The Cumberland River Compact will increase climate resilience in Mill Creek, a priority urban watershed of Nashville, TN, by implementing a suite of regional stormwater practices, ranging from rain gardens and pervious pavement to constructed wetlands, riparian buffers and in-stream habitat improvement that park planners can use to maximize infiltration.