The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District celebrates 130 years of service to the nation and the region in 2018. Army Special Order 191 created the Nashville District Aug. 18, 1888 under the command of Lt. Col. John W. Barlow. He began the task of constructing a series of locks and dams on the Cumberland River.
Today the Nashville District is responsible for directing all water resources activities of the Corps throughout the Cumberland River Basin, and navigation and regulatory matters in the Tennessee River Basin. The District’s Construction and Operations program is spread throughout a 59,000 square mile area that touches seven states. In the Cumberland River Basin, the Nashville District operates and maintains 10 multi-purpose projects for navigation, flood damage reduction, hydropower, environmental stewardship, and recreation. Nine of these generate hydroelectric power. The district has four navigation locks on the Cumberland River, and operates 14 locks on the Tennessee River and one on the Clinch River at 10 Tennessee Valley Authority dams.