The
Caney Fork Watershed
TheCaneyFork River begins its journey in Cumberland County. Fed
by streams and wetlands of six counties, it joins the Cumberland River
in Smith County. The water produces the Center Hill and Cordell
Hull Lake reservoirs. It supports an unsurpassed natural heritage
- five designated state natural areas, including the Bridgestone/Firestone
State W
ilderness
Area, the Pea Ridge Wildlife Management Area, and three spectacular state
parks. Besides featuring exceptional scenery
and a rare diversity of plant and animal species, the watershed serves
over 16,000 people in our communities, supports a healthy agriculture,
and offers exceptionalopportunities for fishing, hinting, boating, hiking,
camping and cave exploration.
Without careful planning and protection the treasure of the Caney Fork watershed could be diminished. Already over sixty of our native plant and animal species arethreatened or endangered, and 268 miles of streams in the watershed are designated as not serving their designated use. We need to work together to protect this natural asset for our own and future generations.
The Caney Fork Watershed Association is a nonprofit organization of volunteers
dedicated to enhancing the long term attractiveness and health of the
Caney Fork Watershed by:
-
exchange of information on the watershed resources
- educating residents, tourists, businesses, developers, and government
agencies about our resource
- promoting cooperation between all stakeholders enjoying the
benefits of the Caney Fork Watershed
We also encourage and support research and studies which provide information on potential risks to the watershed and promote sustainable development for watershed users. CFWA quarterly informational meetings feature expert speakers discussing impacts to our water quality, and opportunities for enjoying and enhancing our watershed. We serve as a clearinghouse for information to assist developers and planners. Finally, we serve as a facilitator in bringing together the stakeholders of the watershed so that information can be shared and conflicts over resource use can be avoided.For more information about CFWA, view the CFWA PowerPoint.