Harpeth Conservancy

TO RESTORE AND PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS FOR RIVERS IN TENNESSEE BY EMPLOYING SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE AND COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO DEVELOP, PROMOTE, AND SUPPORT BROAD COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND ACTION.

THE WATERSHED SCIENCE & RESTORATION PROGRAM PROVIDES THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR HARPETH CONSERVANCY'S WORK. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF EXPERT-DRIVEN STUDIES, CITIZEN-SCIENCE MONITORING, AND PROMOTING A COORDINATED APPROACH THROUGHOUT THE REGION, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE DATA NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION OF OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS. OUR SCIENTIFIC WORK BECOMES THE BASIS OF CONSERVATION PLANNING, INFORMING THE AREAS AND APPROACHES WHERE WE CAN MAXIMIZE IMPACT. PART OF THAT IMPACT COMES THROUGH IMPLEMENTING ON-THE-GROUND PROJECTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND RESTORE WILDLIFE HABITAT. FROM LARGE-SCALE DAM REMOVAL AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO VOLUNTEER DRIVEN RIPARIAN REFORESTATION, WE WORK WITH STATE AGENCIES, CITIES, FARMERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BUILD A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO RESTORING NATURAL RIVER FLOWS, REDUCING EROSION, AND LIMITING POLLUTION ENTERING OUR WATERWAYS.

THE CLEAN WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM ADVANCES THE REGULATORY AND POLICY SOLUTIONS NECESSARY TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN TENNESSEE. THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO ESTABLISH SCIENTIFICALLY BASED POLICY THAT IMPROVES WATER QUALITY, INCLUDING WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMITS THAT LEAVE SUFFICIENT FLOW FOR WILDLIFE, NUTRIENT POLLUTION LIMITS THAT RESTORE NATURAL WATER CHEMISTRY, AND STORMWATER REGULATIONS THAT REDUCE EROSION. WE ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING AND DEFENDING REGULATORY SYSTEMS THAT PROTECT THE HEALTH OF HUMANS AND WILDLIFE BY WORKING WITH STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ORGANIZING STATEWIDE COALITIONS, AND BUILDING LOCAL CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT. THE EFFORT TO SET LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENT POLLUTION ENTERING THE HARPETH IS THE MOST ADVANCED IN THE STATE, AND WE STRIVE TO MAKE THIS A MODEL FOR RIVERS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEASTERN US.

THE OUTREACH, EDUCATION, & RECREATION PROGRAM CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER AWARENESS OF ISSUES AFFECTING FRESHWATER RESOURCES AND APPRECIATION FOR THE INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF SPECIES FOUND IN THE REGION. THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO BUILD THE LOCAL SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION OF PROTECTING RIVERS AND CLEAN WATER. THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WITH LOCAL YOUTH PROGRAMS, AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, AND PROVIDING INFORMATION ON WAYS INDIVIDUALS CAN HELP, WE HOPE TO INSPIRE PERSONAL ACTIVISM AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY LEADERS. WE VIEW RECREATION AS AN AVENUE TO BUILDING STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS, AND WORK TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO RIVERS BY DEVELOPING BLUEWAYS AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL OUTFITTERS TO DEMONSTRATE RESPONSIBLE USE OF OUR RESOURCES.