A recent IUCN study indicates that roughly 25% of all freshwater fauna are currently at risk of extinction. Among the many threats these freshwater ecosystems face are pollution and sedimentation from agricultural runoff. To combat this, the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute has partnered with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and several other agencies to launch the Ridges to Rivers Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) aimed at conserving and protecting critical freshwater habitats across southeastern Tennessee. The R2R RCPP is a five-year, cost-share funding initiative administered by the USDA to assist farmers and landowners in implementing conservation and best-management practices on their land. To ensure success, the program emphasizes strong communication between stakeholders, building effective relationships with landowners and key partners, and adapting to overcome program challenges. Early results demonstrate the program's potential to drive meaningful, on-the-ground conservation efforts in an area crucial to national freshwater biodiversity.