Green and Tradewater BasinsStatus Report

March 2001

No matter where you live, work, orplay, you are in a watershed. Awatershed is a geographic areawhere all water drains to a specificlocation. This location may be astream, river, lake, wetland, ocean,or the water may drain undergroundinto the groundwater. A creek drainsa small watershed, while a riverdrains a larger watershed. Everycreek, stream, or river that drainsinto another body of water isconsidered a tributary to that bodyof water. The watershed boundariesfor a large body of water will includemany smaller tributary watersheds.A surface watershed is defined bythe surrounding topography. Awatershed extends from the end ofthe drainage area (the lowest point)upgradient to all the highest pointsthat surround the drainage channel.

Description of the Green and Tradewater basinsTo understand the health of the watershed, one must also understand the natural conditions of the watershed. The geology, orphysiographic makeup of the basin, the type of terrain, the amount of water, population, land-use activities, etc., all have abearing on where and how pollutants move in the environment and how we are exposed to them. In the end, these naturalconditions affect the health of the watershed and the people who live there.

Regions of the watershedFor the purpose of this report, the Green River basin is dividedinto two regions based on hydrologic units, which divide theoverall Green River watershed into sub-basins defined bytributaries within the basin. On this basis, the part ofthe watershed upstream from the Green’s junction, orconfluence, with the Barren River near Woodbury isconsidered the Upper Green River basin. Similarly,the areas that drain to the Green downstream fromthis point will be referred to as the Lower

PhysiographyThe physiography of a region is influenced by a variety ofunderlying features. Most important is the type and geometryof bedrock in the area. Surface and groundwater flows arecontrolled by the nature of these rocks and the associatedsurface features. There are two main physiographic regionsthrough which the Green and Tradewater Rivers flow. Theheadwaters of the Green River lie in the region known as theEastern Pennyroyal. Most of this area is characterized by flat-lying limestones, sandstones, and shales that underlie flat togently rolling terrain. The limestone areas have well-developedkarst topography, characterized by vast sinkhole plains thattake virtually all surface water that comes to them and channelit through caves and smaller underground passages below theground surface. Several springs in this region, dischargingfrom major underground passages, are large enough to supportmunicipal water systems. The Lower Green River traversesthe Western Coalfield. This region consists primarily of thick

What’s different about these watersheds?In most landscapes, slopes control the runoff from precipitationand stream drainage, with ridgelines forming the drainageboundaries. Underground water in most watersheds anddrainage basins tends to follow the lay of the land. However, insoluble limestone terrain or karst regions, the undergrounddrainage may differ from the boundary of its surface watershedand flow through caves and cracks in the rocks beneath thesurface ridges. This is sometimes called “misbehaved” karstdrainage. In the Mammoth Cave region, 15%-20% of theunderground water is misbehaved.

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What is a watershed?

Green River basin.

This report also deals with all of the Tradewater River drain-age basin, plus a few smaller watersheds that are minortributaries to the Ohio River.

flat-lying sandstone and shale beds and is generally character-ized by flat to gently rolling terrain. Groundwater flow ispredominantly through fractures, with wells in valleys typicallyproducing more water than wells on ridges. The upper part ofthe Tradewater River Region flows northward from theWestern Pennyroyal. As it approaches its confluence with theOhio River, it flows over gently rolling terrain underlainmainly by loose sediments such as sand and silt. Groundwaterflow there is primarily through the spaces between the grainsof sediment. Shallow wells in the area are widely used fordomestic water supplies; in addition, deeper wells in confinedaquifers provide abundant water for industrial, municipal, anddomestic use.

Physiography of the Green/Tradewater Basins

Is the watershed healthy?Watershed health is the main question this report explores. Inorder to determine if the region’s streams are impaired orcontaminated, we have reviewed water sampling data, assess-ments of stream and river bank conditions, discharge permitsfor wastewater treatment plants, and activities like farming,development, logging, and mining. What happens in the riverbasin – or watershed – directly impacts water quality andhabitat conditions. According to current records, some tributar-ies in the Green River basin and the Tradewater River regionare contaminated by agriculture (293 miles of streams),resource extraction (242 miles), municipal impacts (186miles), man-made drainage changes (141 miles), and wastedisposal on the land (86 miles). These sources of pollutantscontribute bacteria from sewage or livestock; silt from erosion,construction, or logging; algae blooms fed by nutrients fromfertilizers or manure; and various pollutants from mining andindustrial or urban wastewater plants. Unfortunately only 22%of the basin’s streams have been assessed. Most of the streamsin the region, however, seem to be free of excessive pollution.Maintaining good water quality in the unpolluted parts of theriver and cleaning up contamination in other sections willrequire a closer look at what is happening in the watershed,how it impacts watershed health, and what can be done toimprove conditions.

BiodiversityBecause of the variety of biological and physiographic regionsthat occur in the Green River and the Tradewater River region,the natural biodiversity is high compared with many surround-

Natural biological systems help humans by filtering andcleansing water and storing and detoxifying pollutants. Butthe loss of habitat or excessive pollution and/or siltation canthreaten biodiversity. The Kentucky Biodiversity Task Forceis an excellent source of information on the status ofKentucky’s plant and animal biodiversity. Visit its website athttp://www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/ksnpc/biodiv.htm.

Floodplain ManagementAs more and more development occurs, land becomes apremium. Unfortunately, good land for farming and develop-ment is often located in the floodplain. When developmentoccurs in the floodplain, several potential problems arise.First and foremost, people and property are at risk during aflood event. Many lives and millions of dollars have been lostto flooding in Kentucky. Ninety-six counties and close to 300municipalities in Kentucky have established a floodplainmanagement program that tries to protect the floodplain andminimize threats to people and property. Thirteen of the 34counties in the Green/Tradewater rivers region have yet toadopt a floodplain management program; but, within some ofthose counties, municipalities have enacted their own flood-plain management ordinances for their citizens. Only commu-nities and/or counties that adopt a Flood Damage PreventionOrdinance and submit an application to the Federal Emer-gency Management Agency (FEMA) are eligible to purchasefederal flood insurance. Flood insurance is not available incounties and municipalities that have not joined the National

Basin or Watershed?The basin of a river, stream, or lakeis all the land that is drained by theriver, stream, or lake. Another wordfor basin is watershed, which comesfrom the observation that water isshed from an area of land and flowsdownhill into a body of water.

Geography and Stream HealthHow does geography affect thehealth of streams? The lay of theland, soil types, and vegetation in anarea can directly affect water quality-- especially when the land is clearedor tilled. For example, basins withloose soils, steep hills, or littlevegetation are often severely erodedby rainstorms, leaving streams andrivers muddy and subject to floodingfrom rapid runoff. Vegetation canreduce flooding by slowing downrunoff from rainstorms and can evenfilter out silt and other contaminantsbefore they reach streams. Trees,bushes, and tall grass along streambanks also reduce erosion along thechannel and create valuable habitatfor birds, mammals, and othercreatures.

BiodiversityBiodiversity is the number and kindof organisms present, includingbacteria, plankton, plants, fungi, andanimals. The degree of biodiversityis both affected by;, and impctsupon, the health and function ofstreams, lakes, and wetlands.

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ing areas. For example, great diversities of fish, aquaticinsects, and freshwater mussels are found in these water-sheds, many of which exist only in this part of the nation and

should be protected. The Green River in Hart,Barren, and Edmonson counties flows throughone of the most significant areas for unique cavespecies diversity in the United States. These rareand endangered cave-dwelling invertebrate

species have not been fully identified; therefore, the Mam-moth Cave area, in particular along the edges of the water-sheds outside of the National Park, requires further study.

Mammoth Cave National Park addssignificantly to the natural andrecreational resources of the regionand attracts a number of out of statetourists. The Mammoth Cave NationalPark website is: http://www.nps.gov/maca/

Karst TopographyKarst topography is defined as thattype of terrain and geologic regionunderlain by bedrock that dissolveseasily, such as limestone, andcharacterized by depressions in theground (sinkholes), caves, andunderground drainage. Becausewater can enter the subsurface easilythrough caves and cracks in thesoluble limestone bedrock, karstgroundwater is highly susceptible tocontamination.

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Block diagram of karst features

Flood Insurance Program. One means for measuring thepotential threat to a community is by the amount of propertyinsured against flood damage. More than $224 million worthof property is insured against flood damage in the region.Since 1978, more than $15 million in flood insurance claimshave been paid in the region, with more than $9 million ofthat figure in Christian County alone.

Natural and Recreational ResourcesA number of natural and recreational resources exist in theGreen River Basin, making it necessary to strike a balancebetween the economics of the area’s tourism and environ-mental protection.

Mammoth Cave The major natural resource of the area isthe renowned Mammoth Cave and the region’s karst topogra-phy; however, there are a number of other special naturalresources, including significant fisheries, threatened and

Two underground rivers within the Green River Basin: Lost River in WarrenCounty (left) and Hawkins River in Edmonson County (right).

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endangered mussels, and wildlife managementareas.

Reservoirs The Army Corps of Engineers(COE) plays a major role in providing for floodprotection and recreation in the Green RiverBasin. Although the four reservoirs, Barren,Green, Nolin and Rough River lakes, were built

primarily for flood protection, they have taken on a significantrole as important regional recreational resources. The landsleased for state parks, campsites, and outdoor activities, alongwith areas managed by the COE, add significantly to therecreational benefits of the region. The remaining land andwater owned by the COE are managed by the KentuckyDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) as partof a management agreement between the COE and KDFWR.The lakes provide habitat for a number of species of populargamefish, including largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass,crappie, channel catfish, sunfishes, and flathead catfish. Inaddition, there are hunting areas for cottontail rabbits, quail,squirrels, turkey, waterfowl, morning doves, and whitetail deer.These reservoirs contain a number of conservation efforts andrecreational opportunities. Visit this Web site for moreinformation:

http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/or/or_pages.htm

Green River Bioreserve The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC)conservation program, Green River Bioreserve, was estab-lished as a landscape-scale, community-based conservationeffort in recognition of the value of the Green River’sbiodiversity. Work will begin on the ground level with agen-cies, conservation groups, communities, and private landown-ers. TNC and the COE are working cooperatively with avariety of state/federal agencies and academic partners topropose modifications in flow and temperature management ofthe Green River Lake reservoir to recapture more naturalpatterns of variation, while still meeting the demands forreservoir recreation, flood storage, and flood control. TNC isalso the local sponsor and cost-sharing partner with the COEon a Section 1135 Environmental Restoration project for bankstabilization/bioengineering and riparian restoration on theGreen River just below the confluence with Russell Creek.

The Green River Bioreserve, consisting of the Upper GreenRiver, its tributaries, and portions of Mammoth Cave NationalPark, comprises a watershed of approximately 1,350 squaremiles. This watershed is among the most significant of aquaticecosystems in North America. Its characteristic landscapefeatures, including much karst topography, habitat diversity,and geographic location, contribute to form one of NorthAmerica’s foremost centers for unique qualities andbiodiversity. The Green River Bioreserve supports nearly 60species of freshwater mussels, one of the world’s mostimperiled organism groups. There is one freshwater musselspecies that can be found only in Kentucky, and then only here.Of the Green River’s 151 fish species, 109 are found withinthe bioreserve. Seven of these species are found only inKentucky, and at least 12 fishes are considered globally rare. Anumber of rare, threatened, or endangered plants and otheranimals are also native to the Green River Bioreserve. Analtered hydrological regime, local land-use practices, bankerosion, agricultural runoff and other nonpoint source pollu-tion, and rural development are primary threats. A studyperformed in the Upper Green River basin has revealed severalpriority sites in need of improved conservation practices.

Water ResourcesThe Green River and Tradewater watersheds are unrivaledwater resources within Kentucky and our nation. Karsttopography is a natural feature of these watersheds. Becauseof the rich supply of streams, other surface waters, and karsttopography, water use (including drinking water) reliesheavily on both surface water and groundwater sources. Thenature of karst topography results in an intermingling ofsurface water and groundwater. Interactions of karst topogra-phy, surface water, and groundwater produce water suppliesthat are extremely vulnerable to poor land-use practices.

With approximately 27,668 miles of surface streams in thesetwo watersheds, the importance of protecting and enhancingwatershed health is obvious. An abundance of water createsmany important habitats and supplies many needs. With theconfluence of many small streams in the eastern headwatersof the Green River watershed, the rivers become much largerand broader in the western region of Kentucky. The gentleterrain, soil types, and geology of the lower portions of theTradewater and Green Rivers create river flows that producewide meanders. As a result of the physical surroundings, therivers frequently receive much of their stream flow frompockets of wetlands scattered about the western region.Wetlands in this region play a critical role in flood control byslowly releasing water to the rivers after a rain event. Duringperiods of drought, wetlands help maintain base flow levelsfor fisheries and drinking water supplies in area rivers.Additionally, these wetlands provide critical habitat forwildlife, filter out pollutants, and help to sustain watershedhealth.

WastewaterA large volume of wastewater is discharged in this regionfrom industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants. Asanitary sewage treatment system and any other type ofindustrial or process wastewater plant must have a KentuckyPollutant Discharge Elimination System (KPDES) permit andmeet specific discharge quality standards. “On-site” wastewa-ter systems, such as septic systems, are used throughout mostof the basin and comprise about 40% of the wastewater

Drinking Water SuppliesSource water for drinking must bepiped from groundwater (wells andsprings) or surface water supplies tothe users. Public drinking waterutilities have to be concerned with thequantity and quality of the supply inorder to meet the needs of the public.Both factors can be greatly affectedby droughts and upstream activities.While the water is treated prior todistribution, the raw water that comesfrom the well, lake, or river must be ofhigh enough quality to allow safetreatment. During periods of droughtor heavy rainfall, the quality can beadversely affected by discharges ofwastewater or pollutants that run offthe land, making protecting thedrinking water source and itswatershed even more important toeveryone.

Consumer Confidence ReportsThe Safe Drinking Water Act requiresthat all community water systemsannually report to water usersinformation about the quality of thewater delivered by the system. Thesepublic reports are available from eachdrinking water provider and describewater sources, water distribution,detected contaminants, and waterquality violations with associatedpublic health information.

ConnectivityThe uniqueness of karst watershedsstrongly reflects the connectivity ofthe land to the water and to publichealth.

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Owensboro wastewater treatment plant

disposal of homes in the state. A particu-lar problem in the Green River Basin isthat septic systems often do not perform

How do people and land useaffect a watershed?

All land-use activities, including agriculture, landfills, coalmines, logging, gas and oil production, concentrated animalfeeding operations and urban sprawl, affect water quality. Thepredominant land-use activities within a watershed are goodindicators of the potential contaminant sources within thatwatershed.

Agricultural land represents about 54.6% of the region and isused to grow crops or raise farm animals. Farming utilizeschemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides thatcould be carried off into a stream by stormwater runoff. Otherimpacts include soil erosion, resulting in sediments enteringthe streams, and pathogens and nutrients from animal wastesentering the streams.

Forest land represents about 39.1% of the region and may be anatural area that is relatively undisturbed or an area whereintensive harvesting occurs or something in between. Most ofthese forests are deciduous; about one-tenth represent ever-green forest types. A forest area that is managed as a naturalarea may have relatively little or no impact on the waterswithin the watershed. However, a forest that is harvested forlumber and poorly managed may impact the watershed throughsoil erosion (primarily from logging roads).

Residential land includes small communities and suburbanareas of homes. Land disturbance during construction as wellas land changes affect the hydrology of streams. Many homes

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properly within the extensive karst regions because ofinadequate filtration and rapid drainage into the ground-water system. Some homes do not have proper wastewa-ter disposal systems; these “straight pipes” release rawsewage to creeks, rivers, or to unconfined undergroundcavities and pose a significant health threat.

In areas where there are recreational boats, discharge anddisposal of wastewater can also be a serious problem.Correction of this problem will involve installation of pump-out and treatment facilities at marinas, along with educationof the boating public. Many of the larger recreational lakes inKentucky have marine waste pump-out stations.

Waste DisposalMost solid waste goes to contained landfills, which aredesigned to capture any leachate (contaminant-laden water)that may be produced. Unfortunately, open dumps are all toocommon. Illegal dumps in sinkholes in the karst plain ofcentral and south central Kentucky are a particular problem.Sinkhole dumps pose a serious threat to human health and theenvironment because they drain directly to groundwaterwhere they can contaminate drinking water supplies.

Under a statewide campaign, thousands of dumps have beencleaned up, millions of waste tires have been picked up, andseveral new programs have been initiated.

depend on septic tanks, which, if not properly maintained, maybe sources of bacteria, pathogens, and nutrients. Chemicalsapplied to lawns, trees, and shrubs by homeowners, such asfertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides, are carried off bystormwater and may harm the quality of the water in the creeksor harm the animals and plants in the creek. Stormwater runofffrom cities contains automotive oils, sediment from land-clearing activities, particulates from cars and other sources,nutrients that feed algae blooms, and other urban contami-nants. The loss of greenspace to development of new build-ings, roads, and parking lots also causes surges in stream levelsdue to rapid runoff that erodes stream banks and can causelocalized flooding. These changes also reduce groundwaterrecharge, so stream flows in summer months are lower. Finally,the loss of trees, shrubs, and grasses along stream banks causesfurther instability and erosion, with resulting increases insiltation and decreases in both in-stream and stream-bankhabitat. Channelization, the clearing and straightening ofstream channels, aggravates both flooding and sedimentation,despite the common notion that it reduces flooding. This is avery widespread practice in the Lower Green River part of thewatershed. Urban, or built-up land, represents about 2.7% ofthe region.

Riparian areaStream banks and the land alongthem are called a riparian area. Withappropriate vegetation, riparianareas provide natural protection frompollutants that drain off the land.Good riparian management canprevent erosions and flooding.

KPDES PermitsThe State of Kentucky requires allpoint source discharges of pollutantsto the waters of the Commonwealthto be permitted. This includesstormwater runoff discharges fromcertain types of industries andconstruction sites exceeding five (5)acres. The permitting program knownas the Kentucky Pollution DischargeElimination System (KPDES) ismanaged by the Division of Water.Any person or entity proposing a newdischarge must submit an applicationfor approval at least 180 days prior tothe proposed date that discharge isanticipated.

Riparian buffer

Manure crib

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Water resources represent about 2.1% of the total land coverin this region, as estimated by land-use grids. Note that noneof the abundant underground water flows in this region arereflected in this value.

Barren land (1.1% of the area) uses include transitionalareas, strip mines, quarries, and transportation corridors. Noland-use data is available for 0.1% of the region.

Because agriculture is the predominant land use, livestockoperations become significant in the watershed. A largepercentage of Kentucky’s livestock operations are located inthe Green River Basin: 69% of the state’s ConcentratedAnimal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and 46% of its AnimalFeeding Operations (AFOs). Under the 1974 Clean WaterAct, CAFOs are generally defined as livestock operations of1,000 animal units or more (for example, 1,000 cattle, 2,550grown or 10,000 immature swine, or 100,000 chickens). Anoperation smaller than this is termed an AFO, but may alsobe defined as a CAFO if it is known to be a significantsource of water pollution.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations that raise poultryand hogs present a particular threat to the Tradewater/Lower Green watershed, as these CAFOs produce vastamounts of animal waste that is either spread or sprayed ontofields, stored where runoff can pollute streams and drinkingwater supplies, or can be subject to floodwaters. In the Upper

What are AFOs and CAFOs?An Agricultural Feeding Operation(AFO) is defined as a lot or facilitywhere animals are confined andmaintained for a total of 45 days ormore in any 12-month period andare fed by means other thangrazing. Concentrated AnimalFeeding Operations (CAFOs) mustmeet the definition of an AFO, andthere must be a specified number ofanimals confined at the operation. Afacility is a CAFO if the operationcontains more than 300 Animal Unitsconfined and there is a discharge tothe waters of the Commonwealth orif there are more than 1000 AnimalUnits confined. The vast majority ofoperations in Kentucky qualify asCAFOs because they have morethan 1000 Animal Units. What are“Animal Units?” 1000 Animal Unitsare equal to:

Beef — 1000 head ofcattleDairy — 700 head ofcattleSwine — 2500 pigs, eachweighing more than 55lbs.Poultry — 100,000 layinghens or broilers

Operations that are defined asCAFOS are required to obtain aKentucky Pollutant DischargeElimination System (KPDES)Permit.

Poultry houses

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Green River watershed, cattleAFOs are predominant, andthey can have significantimpacts on the Green Riverstreams and physicaldamage to streambanks where cattleare unfenced.Fecal contamina-tion can comefrom chicken andhog manuredisposal sites,which are locatedthroughout thebasin. Because ofthe prevalent karsttopography in theUpper Green and the abundance of surface water in theTradewater/Lower Green, this basin can be easily impaired bylarge concentrations of livestock animals. Excess nutrients(nitrogen and phosphorus) from animal wastes can cause algalgrowth, which reduces oxygen in the water and can result infish kills. Animal wastes produced in CAFOs and AFOs alsocontain pathogens, high amounts of antibiotics, and heavymetals. These can seep into groundwater or wash into riversand streams.

There is a minimum of 19 million chickens in the Green Riverbasin, according to the Kentucky Division of Water. InMcLean County alone, there are almost 250 poultry housesalong the Green River. In addition, there were commercialprocessing plants, at least 36 swine CAFOs, and 130 poultryCAFOs in the Green River/Tradewater basin as of January2001.

Contaminants and their effects

Nutrients – nitrogen and phosphoruscan cause an increase in algalgrowth; when the algae die, theirdecomposition removes oxygen fromthe water, resulting in low dissolved-oxygen concentrations. The break-down of some nitrogen compoundsby bacteria also lowers dissolvedoxygen.

Pesticides – runoff of pesticides intostreams results in harm and/or deathto beneficial plants and animals thatlive in or use the water.

Pathogens – a high concentration ofpathogens (bacteria, viruses,protozoans) may cause illness inhumans and other animals and, insome instances, can cause death.

Sediments – the result of soil erosioncauses reservoirs to lose capacity asthe silt settles out, reduces suitablehabitat in streams, and transportsattached contaminants (nutrients andmetals).

Metals – are toxic to fish, humans,and other animals and can causeillness, deformities, and death.

What is the condition of the Lower Green andTradewater watersheds?DescriptionThis region includes the Tradewater River and Lower GreenRiver basins, plus independent tributaries that drain to theOhio River. These watersheds drain approximately 5,674square miles in all or part of 17 counties in western Kentucky.Cities in the region include Hawesville, Madisonville,Morgantown, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Owensboro, Calhoun,Princeton, and Marion. Major impoundments include RoughRiver Lake, Caneyville Reservoir, Grapevine Lake, LakeBeshear, Lake Washburn, Lake Pewee, Lake Luzurne, LakeMalone, and Moffit Lake.

ForestsDue to the highly productive soils found in the TradewaterRegion, the woodlands of this area are mostly smaller tracts oftimber that are remnants of forests that were cleared foragricultural purposes. Both upland and bottomland hardwoodsof the oak-hickory forest type dominate the region; cherrybarkoak is particularly important, both silviculturally and economi-cally. Bottomland forests, in particular, provide severalsignificant watershed benefits. In addition to filtering waterbefore it reaches the main watercourse, trees help to stabilizethese areas by holding soil in place with their root structures.These areas are also particularly rich in wildlife resourcesbecause of the valuable habitat that they provide. The condi-tions that allowed for these forests to develop naturally havebeen altered by man-made changes, usually in the drainagepatterns of the surrounding farmland. Even slight changes inthe amount of water in an area can affect what tree species cansurvive and flourish there.

The forestland of the Lower Green Region consists of uplandhardwoods of the oak-hickory forest type with a small percent-age of bottomland hardwoods also present. Most of thetimberland in this region consists of areas that were notcleared for agricultural purposes, mostly due to topography

Western Kentucky Farm

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that was not ideal for farming. The majority of the wood-lands found here consist of third- and fourth-generation trees.Regeneration has occurred mainly through the sprouting ofstumps from trees that have been harvested. The oaks areprobably the most important tree family in the area, both interms of the number of species present and economic value.White oak is the most dominant of these, along with northernred oak, black oak, and cherrybark oak. Yellow poplar,hickories, maples, ash, and black walnut can also be foundconsistently throughout the region.

Water QualityWater quality in the region is generally good. To date, 1,176miles of stream (19 %) of a total of 6,192 miles have beenmonitored and assessed for water quality and biologicalintegrity. The results of these surveys have revealed thatapproximately 67 percent of the assessed streams are fullymeeting water quality standards. Streams not meetingstandards are shown on the centerfold map.

AgricultureKentucky agricultural producers, although faced with manychallenges, continue to look forward andanticipate opportunities upon entering the21st Century. The number one cash crop oftobacco has experienced quota reductions,pressing agriculturists to explore newareas of opportunity and development.Kentucky’s producers are challenged withanalyzing new technology and marketingopportunities as they adapt to diversifiedoperations.

The Lower Green River and directtributaries to the Ohio River drain most ofthe Western Kentucky coalfields, and the

Western Kentucky coal mine

Tradewater River drains the far western area. Portions ofWebster, Union, and Christian counties drain into theTradewater basin. In 1999, Webster County ranked eighthin Kentucky for cash receipts from livestock production,Union County ranked fourth for cash receipts from crops,and Christian County ranked first for cash receipts fromcrops (Kentucky Agricultural Statistics 1999-2000).

Oil and Gas ProductionOil reserves tend to float on prehistoric brine water, whichhas salt concentrations higher than today’s oceans. The saltwater becomes a by-product of lifting crude oil to thesurface. While the current most environmentally acceptablemethod of disposal is to inject it back into the subsurface,prior to regulation this brine was routinely dumped intocreeks and rivers. Streams that have intermittent flow are

Coal mine sites active after 1972 are regulatedby the Department of Surface Mining Reclama-tion and Enforcement (DSMRE), and sites

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more vulnerable to brine impacts. Brine spills to soil havethe potential of impacting groundwater and surface waterfor users down gradient.

Coal Mining

mined prior to 1972 are considered “pre-law” and are regu-lated by the department’s Division of Abandoned Mine Lands(AML). Areas mined “pre-law” were unprotected; conse-quently, environmental requirements were minimal or nonex-istent. Erosion, loss of vegetation, and acid mine dischargewere common on old mine sites, or AMLs. Iron and manga-nese leached from AML sites and colored the stream bed witha bright red coating. Discharges from older reclamation sitesmay have vegetative cover and silt control, yet still have red-water discharges from old mine works under the surface minereclamation work. Current practices are available to fix theseareas, but the cost is high. Creeks in the older coalfields ofWestern Kentucky have wildlife habitat options, wetlandoptions, and grass cover reclamation. Since these creeks haveshallower slopes, there are far fewer blackwater complaintscompared to the steep slopes encountered in Eastern Kentuckycoalfields.

Water quality is impacted in AML sites not only by acid minerunoff, but by siltation and blackwater releases from im-pounded coal slurry and erosion of coal refuse piles. In thewestern coalfields, gentle slopes and flat land lead to theformation of wetlands from siltation deposits. These lie indrainage channels of Greasy Creek, Elk Creek, Flat Creek,Drakes Creek, Clear Creek, Buffalo Creek, Richland Creek,

State Nature PreservesPreserves within the watershedinclude the John James AudubonState Park Nature Preserve. Thisarea is managed by the KentuckyState Nature Preserves Commissionto protect resident plants andanimals, including many threatenedand endangered species. Ninestream segments within the LowerGreen and Tradewater basin, totaling217 stream miles, contain rarespecies.

WetlandsWetlands provide essential water-shed functions related to floodwaterstorage, groundwater flow modera-tion, sediment removal, nutrientcycling, and water purification. Theyprovide diverse habitats for wildlifeforaging and reproduction, andessential refuge for a wide variety ofmammals, reptiles, amphibians, andfish. Three broad categories ofwetlands exist within the Green/Tradewater River basin: lacustrine(lake-like), palustrine (swamp-like),and riverine (associated with surfacewater channels). Water permanence,gradient, water velocity, substrate,extent of floodplain development, andvegetation types further define thesesystems.

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Hurricane Creek, Copper Creek and Copperas Creek, andparts of the Tradewater River, with acid mine runoff causingthe greatest impact on water quality. During the last 30 years,AML reclamation sites and KPDES permitting have improvedwater quality and allowed for the reestablishment of fishablestream segments.

Special ResourcesMany parts of the state have been set aside and given specialprotection because of their natural qualities and scenic beauty.While these lands are managed for their long-term protection,many are open to the public. In addition to providing a safehaven for rare species and unique ecological systems, theseareas provide outstanding scenery and recreational opportuni-ties. Hiking, wildlife viewing, canoeing and kayaking, andother non-motorized sports can be enjoyed over much of theseareas. Contact the various agencies listed in the back of thisdocument for more information.

The Lower Green/Tradewater region contains the PennyrileState Forest and three state parks: John James Audubon, BenHawes, and Rough River state parks. Plus, there are four statewildlife management areas in the region: Henderson/Sloughs,Higginson-Henry, Peabody, Rough River Lake, and Jones-Keeney state wildlife management areas. The KentuckyDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Resources administers statewildlife management areas.

Proposed National Wildlife RefugeEstablishment of a Green River National Wildlife Refuge(NWR) in Henderson County has been proposed for thepurpose of restoring and managing a valuable wetland com-plex for the benefit of migratory birds. Land surrounding theconfluence of the Green River and Ohio River is within theproposed refuge boundary. Historically, this area was part of alarge bottomland hardwood forest, which had extensive oak,hickory, and native pecan trees. Currently, the area consists ofridge and swale farmland, river-scar oxbows, several sloughs,wet depressional areas, and a small amount of bottomlandhardwoods.

Waterfowl are plentiful; on one occasion, more than 10,000ducks and 8,000 geese were observed feeding and resting inthe flooded bottoms. Waterfowl species most commonly seenin the project area include mallard, Canada geese, blue-winged and green-winged teal, gadwall, American wigeon,wood duck, redhead, canvasback, and ring-necked duck.There are also infrequent observations of bufflehead, lesserscaup, American black duck, snow geese, and white-frontedgeese. Significant populations of migratory waterfowl areobserved on the project area only when flood conditions areright. Because the area was previously converted to agricul-tural land, the natural flooding and flow conditions of abottomland hardwood forest that promote wildlife were lost.Therefore, the benefits to fish and wildlife resources from theproposed management activities would be greatly enhancedby improvement of water quality in the Green River system.

Species of ConcernThe quality of spawning habitat in the basin for fish speciesthat need hard, relatively sediment-free stream floors hasbeen significantly degraded by the development and mainte-nance of navigation corridors in the Green/Tradewater Riverbasin and from gravel dredging and flood control efforts inthe rivers and their tributaries. Of particular concern are thesturgeon chub, sicklefin chub, lake sturgeon, paddlefish,northern cavefish, eastern sand darter, spotted darter, andlonghead darter. The alligator gar has also experiencedpopulation declines throughoutthe basin, most likely a result ofthe loss of floodplain waters andwetlands adjacent to the majorrivers. The copperbelly watersnake also occurs in the basin.This species is currently protectedby a Candidate ConservationAgreement to preclude its listingas federally threatened in Ken-tucky.

The Green River

11

Lower Green and Minor Ohio River Tributaries data onthe next page

Upper Green Impaired Stream DataKentucky Report to Congress on Water Quality

12

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13

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Urbanized landWaterBarren and Mined land

Agricultural landForested land

Upper Green Landuse

5 0 5 10 15 Miles

What is the condition of the Upper Green Riverwatershed?DescriptionThe Upper Green River drains approximately 5,413 squaremiles of south central Kentucky and about 454 square miles ofnorth central Tennessee. This region contains many karst flowsystems that affect underground water movement and quality.This area includes all or part of 19 counties in Kentucky andpart of 3 counties in Tennessee. Cities in the basin includeBowling Green, Campbellsville, Columbia, Elizabethtown,Franklin, Glasgow, Greensburg, Hodgenville, Munfordville,and Russellville plus numerous smaller communities. Majorimpoundments in the basin include Green River Lake, BarrenRiver Lake, Nolin Lake, Herndon Lake, Lake Malone, andLake Beshear.

Water QualityThere are approximately 8,288 miles of streams andrivers in the Upper Green River basin. Only 714.3

14

ForestsThe woodlands of the Upper Greenregion are dominated by upland

hardwood tree species particular to oak-hickory forests. Thevariations in soil types throughout the basin influence thevegetation communities. For example, because much of thesoils of the Upper Green are well-drained upland soils thatoriginated from limestone, chinquapin oak forests grow wellin this region. The woodlands of this region play a pivotalrole in water quality, as they help filter pollutants before theyenter the many sinkholes and underground rivers and streamsin the area. As with the Lower Green, the timber in this areaprovides important economic benefits. Due to the amount,quality, and maturity of timber here, there are a number ofwood-using industries in the watershed that generatenumerous jobs throughout the area.

The American Cave ConservationAssociation (ACCA),in partnership with the city of HorseCave and numerous contributors, hasestablished the American CaveMuseum, which provides the nation’sonly museum devoted heavily to caveand karst issues. This is a successstory which is providing ongoingeducational outreach in the GreenRiver watershed. The ACCA, incooperation with the Ky. Division ofConservation, operates “Farming inCave Country,” an educationalprogram in the Mammoth Cave areatargeted at farmers. Other championsof environmental protection efforts inthe Green River basin are theKentucky Waterways Alliance,Western Kentucky University’sCenter for Cave and Karst Studies,and its Center for Water ResourceStudies

miles (9%) have been assessed to determine whether theymeet water quality standards for swimming and fishing.Many of the streams in the upper watershed are relativelypristine, but others have been negatively impacted byagriculture and development, while the lower watershed hasbeen impacted by resource extraction such as coal mining, oiland gas well development, and timber harvesting, as well aspoorly planned development and other nonpoint sourcepollution. The limited monitoring data available in the UpperGreen River basin indicates that streams have documentedimpairments due to agriculture (98.3 miles of stream im-paired), industrial and municipal wastewater discharges (61.5miles), urban runoff and development (17.9 miles), and otherunknown sources (394.7 miles). A more detailed listing ofstreams and where the pollutants are coming from is providedat the center of this document. The centerfold map depictsthe location of streams and their impairment status.

AgricultureThe Upper Green River basin includes the headwaters of theGreen River and Barren River basins as far west as the edgeof the Western Kentucky Coalfields. Agricultural productionin this basin is very diversified with land uses devoted tospecialty crops including tobacco, livestock production ofbeef and dairy operations, and conventional row crops of

Row crop agriculture in Green River Basin

15

small grains, corn, and soybeanproduction. Based on statewidestatistics for 1999, the countywith the top cash receipts fortobacco was Barren County in1999. Barren County was alsoranked as Kentucky’s numberone county in dairy livestockand milk production and rankednumber nine in cash receiptsales for crops and beeflivestock. Adair County wasranked number two in milkproduction. Warren County wasranked second in all cattle andcalves, second in beef cows,

and fifth in milk production (Kentucky Agricultural Statistics1999-2000).

Karst Landscapes and AquifersKarst landscapes and their associated aquifers are veryimportant features in parts of the Green River Basin. These areareas of soluble limestone bedrock where the bedrock hasdissolved, leading to the development of caves, sinkholes,sinking streams, and underground rivers. Indeed, the GreenRiver Basin contains some of the world’s most famous andwell-developed karst areas, including the longest known cave,the Mammoth Cave System. Due to the spectacular nature ofkarst development within the basin, parts of Hart, Barren, andEdmonson counties have not only been protected with theestablishment of Mammoth Cave National Park, but have beendesignated by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site andInternational Biosphere Reserve. In this area, more than 497miles of cave passages and underground rivers have beenexplored and mapped, including more than 310 miles inMammoth Cave alone, far more than any similar sized area onEarth.

Within the Green River Basin, contaminants can be introducedto karst groundwater from urban, industrial, and agriculturalsources. Nowhere is this a more significant concern than in thesinkhole plain. The sinkhole plain extends from Hart County,to the northeast, through the Mammoth Cave National Park,into Logan County, to the southwest. An especially severe andwidespread problem is bacterial contamination from humanand animal waste. Because of the high velocities in a karstaquifer, groundwater contaminated by septic tanks or feedlotrunoff can travel long distances to a well or spring withinsufficient time for potentially harmful bacteria to die. Aparticular irony is that while many people have the idea thatlimestone cave and spring water is often very pure, in realitybacteria levels in karst areas can exceed drinking waterstandards by thousands of times.

A critical aspect of groundwater in these areas is that unusualand fragile species, and related underground ecosystems, haveevolved within the underground rivers of the karst aquifers.

Special ResourcesNature Preserves within the watershed include the Vernon-Douglas State Nature Preserve. This area is managed by theKentucky State Nature Preserves Commission to protectresident plants and animals, including many threatened andendangered species. The Kentucky Department of Fish andWildlife Resources is the regulatory agency responsible formanaging rare and endangered species within the state.Twenty stream segments within the Upper Green basin,totaling 665.5 stream miles, contain rare species.

There are two state parks in the Upper Green basin: GreenRiver Lake and Barren River Lake state parks. Both of thesestate parks have state wildlife management areas associatedwith them. The Kentucky Department of Fish and WildlifeResources administers these areas.

A large segment of the Upper Green River has been desig-nated a state Wild River in recognition of its outstandingnatural qualities and pristine setting. The designated streamsegment is the highest quality, least-impacted stream in thebasin. It consists of 26 stream miles of the Green River (Hartand Edmonson counties) and has a corridor area of 6,500acres. This is part of a larger 157-mile segment, from GreenRiver Lake Dam to Lock & Dam #4, that winds throughTaylor, Green, Hart, Edmonson, Warren, and Butler counties.This stream segment is managed by the Division of Water toprotect its natural features and undeveloped character. Inaddition, Mammoth Cave National Park, managed by theNational Park Service, also protects much of the Wild Riversegment of the Green River in Edmonson County, as well asportions in Hart County. Portions of four streams have beendesignated as Outstanding Resource Waters: a 15-milesegment of the Barren River from Lock and Dam #1 (WarrenCounty) to its confluence with the Green River (ButlerCounty); a 4-mile segment of Echo River (EdmonsonCounty) from east edge of Mammoth Cave National Park toGreen River; an 8-mile segment of Hawkins River, anunderground flow from Park City (Barren County) to GreenRiver at Turnhole Bend Spring (Edmonson); and a 4-milesegment of Logsdon River from east of Roppel Cave nearCave City (Barren County) to Hawkins River (EdmonsonCounty).

What does the presence of karstmean for water quality?

- Waters in karst areas areextremely vulnerable to contamina-tion.- While groundwater may travelonly a few feet per year throughsandstone, it can reach velocitiesof several miles per day in karstaquifers.- Stormwater runoff may carrycontaminants directly into caveswithout any filtration through thesoil.- Contaminants may percolatethrough the thin soils into the cavedrainage system below.

Due to the ease with which contami-nants can be introduced into, andrapidly carried through, karstaquifers, it is generally safe toassume that any water entering karstaquifers has the possibility ofintroducing contaminants.State ParksThere are two state parks in theUpper Green basin: Green RiverLake and Barren River Lake stateparks. Both of these state parks havestate wildlife management areasassociated with them. The KentuckyDepartment of Fish and WildlifeResources administers these areas.

Karst sinkhole plain Northern red-bellied salamander

16

Many of these organisms, including several species of eyelessfish and crayfish, have developed special characteristics to beable to survive in a lifetime of total darkness. While some havelost the ability to see, they have compensated with specialsense organs that allow them to move around and find food.Pollution sources, however, pose a significant threat to thehealth of these ecosystems and their inhabitants. The federallyendangered Mammoth Cave Shrimp was thought for someyears to have become extinct, but still lives in small numbersin the groundwaters of the Green River Basin. Other endan-gered species in the watershed, particularly mussels in theGreen River itself, are subject to threats by water qualityimpairment.

Significant research is underway in the basin to develop karst-sensitive Best Management Practices (BMPs), which are land-use strategies that strive to strike a balance between minimiz-ing impairment to the basin’s water quality and the economicand cultural needs of the area’s residents. Some of these arestrictly win-win propositions. Storage and carefully timedapplication of animal waste as a fertilizer, for example, has insome cases been shown to simultaneously reduce the levels ofbacteria entering the groundwater and reduce the need forexpensive chemical fertilizers.

Species of ConcernFederally listed endangered animalspecies known to occur in the Green/Tradewater River basin include thebald eagle, Indiana bat, gray bat,Interior least tern, fanshell, catspaw,Northern riffleshell, pink mucket, ringpink, Orange-foot pimpleback,clubshell, fat pocketbook, roughpigtoe, American burying beetle, andKentucky Mammoth cave shrimp.The bald eagle is also the onlyfederally threatened animal speciesknown to occur in the basin.Federally listed threatened plantspecies known to occur in the basinare Price’s potato bean and Eggert’ssunflower.

Exotic SpeciesThe zebra and quagga mussels pose a realistic threat to thecontinued diversity of native unionid mussels and snails inthe Green/Tradewater River basin. These invasive, non-native mussels attach themselves to any available hardsurface, including water plant intakes and discharge struc-tures, which can become heavily encrusted with thesebarnacle-like infestations. Frequently required removal of themussels increases maintenance costs, which get passed on todrinking water customers. Additionally, these exotic musselsattach themselves to other mussels and snails, causing harmto the hosts by restricting their ability to move about and feedthemselves. Exotic species often have no natural predatorsand can continue to reproduce to levels that will displace andout-compete other species.

Freshwater MusselsHistorically, the Green River supported one of the mostabundant and diverse freshwater mussel faunas in the world.More than 70 species of mussels once flourished in the riffleand shoal habitats of the Green River and its tributaries.Recent surveys of the river from Lock and Dam 6 upriver toMunfordville indicate that 50 species still exist, including 8

Barren River

17

species that are currently listed as federally endangered.Although significant reductions in the fauna have occurred, theGreen River still supports one of the best remaining nativemussel faunas known in the nation.

Because mussels feed by filtering particulates from the watercolumn and because they tend to accumulate pollutants,including heavy metals and organic compounds such aspesticides, they can serve an important role as biologicalindicators of water quality.

The decline in diversity of freshwater mussel species in thebasin can be attributed to infrastructure development (roads,dams, locks, etc.), agriculture, surface and underground coalmining, oil and gas drilling, impoundments, channelization,commercial mussel harvesting, gravel mining, and exoticspecies.

Waste and WastewaterProper management of wastewater is a major issue in theUpper Green basin. Kentucky Pollutant Discharge EliminationSystem (KPDES) permits, provided for under federal and statelaws, allow the disposal of treated effluent into the water. Thiseffluent can be relatively clean wastewater from properlyoperating municipal and industrial wastewater treatmentplants, discharges from sedimentation or treatment ponds nearmines or oil/gas wells, or stormwater from culverts that draincity streets.

Most rural households in the Upper Green basin are notconnected to municipal wastewater treatment systems andtherefore rely on some form of onsite treatment for wastewater.Few municipal wastewater treatment systems presently existexcept in some of the larger communities. However, numeroushouseholds in the Upper Green basin do not have any form ofwastewater treatment, and the untreated wastewater from thesehouseholds is discharged directly to a creek, onto surface soil,or into underground cavities. This is known as a “straight-pipe” discharge.

The presence of straight-pipe discharges and failed septic

Threatened freshwater mussels.Top: fanshell; bottom: rough pig toe

How do we determine watershed health?Healthy watersheds produce clean water – water that isfishable, swimmable and suitable as a drinking water source.Watersheds that meet these criteria support a wide variety ofaquatic life and are a valuable resource. State agenciesprimarily use the guidelines in the federal Clean Water Act todetermine whether or not the quality of river and stream wateris acceptable. Under the Clean Water Act, states set standardsfor the water based on how it is being used. These uses canconsider the high-quality values of a wild and scenic river, astream’s importance as a drinking water source, wildlifehabitat, or other uses. The standards include benchmarks forvarious parameters like dissolved oxygen, temperature, acidity,

and other measurable qualities (see side-bar).

If a lake, river, or stream meets the standards for fishing,swimming, and drinking water sources, it is said to fullysupport its designated uses (see centerfold map and tables). Ifit falls short on a few measures, it may only partially supportits uses. Failure on additional counts can mean that it is notsupporting its designated uses. The condition of these watersis reported to Congress as required by the Clean Water Act,Section 305(b). Bodies of water that do not support theirdesignated uses must have cleanup plans that identify andquantify the problem pollutants and specify how they will bereduced. Sometimes the pollutants come from point sourcessuch as residential and industrial wastewater treatmentsystems; other times they are carried into the water fromnonpoint sources such as runoff from towns, farms, newdevelopments, or other areas.

Watershed health means more than good water chemistry. Inaddition to chemical analyses, watershed health can bemeasured by observing plant and animal life. For example,certain species are indicators of water quality. Also, habitat isimportant to watershed and stream health. Vegetation in theriparian area - especially shrubs and trees - provides food andcover for terrestrial and aquatic life. Riparian vegetation alsoholds stream banks in place and helps to filter soil erosionand other polluted runoff. The amount and type of vegetationalong a stream, lake, or sinkhole determines riparian health.

Watershed health also means having good storage andretention capabilities in the basin. That is, under idealconditions, as rain falls upon the earth, water either evapo-rates, soaks into the ground, or runs off into streams, lakes,and rivers. For water to soak into the ground, the water mustencounter some obstacles that slow its flow-rate, such asretention basins, trees, leaf litter in a forest, even grass. Allthese things cause water flow to slow down enough for it tosoak into the ground. A hard-packed clay field or a parkinglot will simply shed the water, forcing it to run downstream.Conversely, if the water can soak into the ground, it rechargesthe groundwater for wells and will slowly release it to ourstreams and lakes. In an unhealthy watershed, this runoff/

Septic SystemsSeptic systems help clean upsewage from homes and businessesin areas not served by wastewatertreatment plants. On most systems,the first stage of treatment is theseptic tank, where wastewater isdigested and solids settle out. Afterthe septic tank, the liquid waste isdirected to a drain field, lagoon, orwetland for further treatment. If theprocess is working correctly, therelatively clean wastewater thensoaks into the ground. Septic tanksrequire periodic maintenancepumping.

Septic system installation

18

systems has greatly impacted water quality in the Upper Greenbasin. Elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria (from humanand animal waste) have been detected in numerous portions ofthe basin. Moreover, the levels of fecal coliform bacteria areso high that numerous streams and creeks are unsafe forswimming or any other human contact, such as wading andfishing.

The passage of Senate Bill 18 in 1998, which requires that awastewater treatment system be approved prior to electricalhook-up, has slowed the proliferation of straight pipes. Otherstate and federal resources, in the form of loans and grants, arebecoming available to help with this problem (see the end ofthis document for contact information).

The good news is that people are working together to make adifference through the efforts of various volunteer organiza-tions and participating local governments. During 1998 and1999, various groups adopted streams for cleanup. In addition,1,179 open dumps have been identified. These efforts haveresulted in 3,315,000 tires being collected from the drainageareas of the Upper Green River Basin and sent to a recyclingfacility. A major success story is the $15 million effort by localtaxpayers, EPA, and other federal agencies to build a regionalsewage treatment system for Horse Cave, Cave City and ParkCity. This has contributed substantially to the quality of waterthat enters the Green River through the largest spring inKentucky.

Organisms as indicatorsHealthy streams have low levels ofcontaminants and contain a diversityof plants and animals. Certainmussels and insect larvae (caddisfly,stonefly, mayfly) are often used asindicators of good water quality,similar to the coal mine canariesused to detect poisonous gases.Since these mussels and larvae canlive only in relatively clean water,their presence usually indicates thatproblems are few in that section ofthe stream.

Kentucky Water Quality StandardsThe following parameters, ormeasurable criteria, are only a few ofthose used to define Kentucky’swater quality standards. Thestandards and units for eachparameter are listed below. Forexample, if a water sample showsmore than 400 fecal coliform CFUs ina 100-milliliter sample, the waterwould be considered contaminated.• Dissolved Oxygen: >4.0 Milligramsper liter• pH (measures acidity): 6-9 Standardunits (7.0-neutral)• Fecal coliform: 400 Colony-FormingUnits per 100 milliliters of water• Temperature: <89 degreesFahrenheit

Land activities that can impact water quality

Activity ImpactsRow cropping Siltation, erosion, chemical and fertilizer runoff.Livestock production Manure runoff (excessive nutrients and bacteria), damage to streamside vegetation, bank erosion.Logging Loss of streamside trees, bank erosion, siltation from roads, increased runoff.Mining Acidity and sulfates from iron sulfide rocks, sediment, runoff surges.Oil and gas drilling Brine from drilling, sediments, oily runoff.Residential yards Lawn and garden chemical and fertilizer runoff, higher runoff velocities.Urban development Siltation from land clearing, runoff surges (oils and metals) from roofs, roads, parking lots.Industrial facilities Chemical runoff from material storage areas, soot deposits, runoff surges, spills.Commercial development Runoff surges (oils and metals) from parking lots, roofs; sediment from land clearing.Stream clearing Sedimentation, loss of wildlife/mussel habitat, loss of shading (increased temp.), flooding.Channelization Increased flooding, sedimentation, loss of fish/insect habitat, loss of mussel beds.Construction in floodplains Increased flooding, siltation, danger to life and property.Boating Fuels, oils, and pathogens from discharge of sanitary waste.All terrain vehicles (ATVs) Erosion, loss of habitat.

19

soak-in cycle can have two negative effects: In times of highflow, it can cause all the water to run off so rapidly that itresults in flooding. Or, in times of low flow, it can result instreams that run completely dry because there is no runoff orspring seepage to keep the rivers flowing.

During times of low stream flow, which occur more often inthe late summer and early fall, streams may have lesssuspended silt but may be rich and green from algae growth.During times of low flow, most of the water in streams comesfrom groundwater inflow.

While state officials have information from samples collectedon the Green River, the Tradewater, and the minor tributariesto the Ohio River, much of the water in the basin has notbeen tested. An interagency workgroup is coordinating effortsto increase the amount of monitoring conducted in the region.By working together, tax dollars can be stretched and betterinformation provided on the condition of the watershed. Also,citizens active in the Tradewater/ Lower Green RiverWatershed Watch and the Upper Green River WatershedWatch have collected data to supplement public agencyinformation and raise public awareness. Watershed Watchvolunteers are trained to conduct habitat and biologicalassessments, perform regular field chemistry measurements,and take specific chemical samples of their site to a lab for

analysis. Reducing concentrations of pollutants that exceedstate standards will require a considerable amount of coopera-tive action and analysis.

Practices that reduce impacts from land activitiesActivity Management practicesRow cropping Use conservation tillage, targeted chemical use, strip cropping, and streamside buffers.Livestock production Move facilities uphill, install waste treatment systems, stream fencing, and setbacks.Logging Skid on the contour, avoid streams, preserve streamside trees, and install water bars.Mining Reclaim mined areas, mix acid and alkaline material, add erosion/sediment controls.Oil and gas drilling Store or treat wastes from drilling, control sediments and oils.Residential yards Reduce/eliminate lawn/garden chemical use, preserve streamside vegetation.Urban development Sediment/erosion/stormwater controls, minimize land clearing and pavement, preserve

existing trees.Industrial facilities Cover stored materials, control/treat runoff, minimize air/water discharges.Commercial development Minimize land clearing, control/treat runoff, reduce parking lots/road sizes.Stream clearing Minimize clearing, preserve vegetation, promote greenways/buffers.Channelization Decrease flooding by reducing or slowing runoff, restore streamside wetlands.Construction in floodplains Limit or eliminate development in floodplains.Boating Use marine sanitation devices and pumpout facilities.ATVs Use ATVs only in designated areas and maintained trails.

What is Watershed Watch?Watershed Watch is a citizen-ledeffort organized to get people down tothe river and raise their awareness ofwatershed issues. The Upper GreenRiver and Tradewater/Lower GreenRiver Watershed Watch groupsprovide volunteers with extensivetraining on water quality issues,assessment data, and monitoringmethods -- and have a good timewhile doing it. Several hundredvolunteers have visited stream sitesall over the basin, collecting fieldobservations on habitat and land useand collecting water samples forpesticides, nutrients, metals, andconventional parameters. Data areanalyzed with the assistance ofprofessionals and incorporated intomaps. Each fall, the public is invitedto attend a watershed conferenceheld in each basin to discuss theresults and other watershed issues.There is no cost to participate in theWatershed Watch program -- call orvisit the Web site to inquire aboutbecoming a volunteer.

What can I do to help?

A variety of actions is needed to improve water quality in theTradewater River and the Green River region. Everyone wholives in the watershed can help. Support, encouragement, andfinancial assistance will be required to help farmers, loggers,and developers to adopt erosion and sediment controls.Farmers, homeowners, and golf course managers need toreduce the amount of fertilizers and chemicals they apply totheir lands. Significant research is underway in the basin todevelop karst-sensitive Best Management Practices (BMPs),which are land-use strategies that strive to strike a balancebetween the need for minimized impairment to the basin’swater quality and the economic and cultural needs of the area’sresidents. Some of these are strictly win-win propositions.Storage and carefully timed application of animal waste as afertilizer, for example, has in some cases been shown tosimultaneously reduce the levels of bacteria entering thegroundwater and reduce the need for expensive chemicalfertilizers. In addition, people who own property along thecreeks and rivers must recognize the importance of trees,shrubs, and tall grasses along the banks and in the floodplains.

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve En-hancement Program is an important program. It will coverapproximately 1 million acres of lands associated with theUpper Green River, including the entire watershed from the

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dam at Green River Lake to the mouth of Nolin River. Thisprogram provides farmers with more flexibility whenapplying for assistance and provides favorable incentives tofarmers for implementing best management practices on theirland. Conservation practices that offer the greatest protectionof water quality (e.g., riparian buffer) will receive up to twicethe payments as under the current continuous conservationprogram. Other practices that will earn incentive paymentsinclude filter strips and sinkhole protection. The program willalso feature incentive payments to farmers when they applyin the amount of $100 or $150 per acre for entering into 10-to 15-year contracts, respectively. In addition, the programwill allow a farmer to place practices under 30-year orpermanent easement protection for additional payment. Theoverall project will bring approximately $110 million tofarmers in eight counties of the Upper Green River Basin.

Better dissemination and use of educational materials andtechnical information are needed to help people understandthe importance of leaving streams alone - avoiding thetemptation to channelize them, clearing their vegetation,straightening them out, digging up their gravel bars, andcontrolling their flows. People who dump trash along creeksor toss litter from their vehicles also need to be educatedabout how they are hurting their environment. Several newinitiatives are under way to address water pollution caused byactivities on the land. The 1998 Forest Conservation Act

Get Connected - Web linksCheck out these sites to learn moreabout the science and practice ofwatershed management in Kentuckyand the nation.Kentucky’s WatershedFramework -http://kywatersheds.orgKy. Division of Water, Water Watchvolunteer monitoring -http://water.nr.state.ky.us/ww/Ky. Division of Water - http://water.nr.state.ky.us/dow/Green and Tradewater RiversWatershed Watch volunteermonitoring projects - http://water.nr.state.ky.us/watch/Kentucky Dept. for Fish andWildlife Resources - http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/Kentucky Division of Forestry -http://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dnr/forestry/dnrdof.htmlKentucky Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection Cabinet -http://www.kyenvironment.org/Kentucky Department for NaturalResources - http://www.kyenvironment.org/nrepc/dnr/dnrhome2.htmKentucky list of priority impaired(“TMDL”) streams - http://water.nr.state.ky.us/303d/Kentucky District of the USGeological Survey - http://130.11.24.1Western Kentucky UniversityTechnical Assistance Center forWater Quality – http://water.wku.eduStream corridor restoration guide -http://www.usda/gov/stream_restoration/newtofc.htmlRecreational boating - http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us

r

This report has been produced as part of Kentucky’s Water-shed Management Framework, which is a cooperative ap-proach to improving the health of the state’s watersheds. Theyear 2000 was the first year of a five-year planning andmanagement cycle for the Green and Tradewater River basin.During the second year, several agencies and organizationswill conduct extensive monitoring in the region. During thethird year, people throughout the region will confer to decidewhich small watersheds should receive intensive attentionduring years four and five of the cycle. In year four, improve-ment plans will be made for the small watersheds selected, andin year five, many agencies and organizations will implementthose plans. The cycle then begins again in 2005, with a newevaluation and a new status report. Contributors to thisdocument include members of Green and Tradewater RiverBasin Team under the Watershed Management Framework.

Kentucky Watershed ManagementFramework

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requires trained Master Loggers to be present where timber isbeing cut, skidded, and loaded to ensure that proper measuresare taken to preserve streamside trees, minimize road-building impacts, and reduce erosion. The Kentucky Agricul-tural Water Quality Act requires farmers to develop soil andwater conservation plans to address impacts from plowing,fertilizing, chemical applications, livestock production, andother activities

But progress cannot be realized just by passing laws - peoplehave to get involved if improvements are to be made. Somepeople may want to help collect water quality information bybecoming monitoring volunteers, while others might spreadthe word that trees and native vegetation should be pre-served, especially in new development tracts and alongstreams in our towns and cities. Those who care about theimpacts of trash and other debris may wish to participate incleanup projects to remove these eyesores from the river andits tributaries. We are beginning to have a better understand-ing of how we should treat the land and its waters in order tomaintain a high level of water quality in our Commonwealth.All of us can become more involved in protecting waterquality in our communities simply by paying more attentionto activities occurring around us. What is the status of waterquality in your community? What industries, mining, orlogging activities are currently in existence? What new onesmay be coming to your area? How do - or will - any of theseimpact water quality?

If you would like more information, please contact theKentucky Division of Water or other members of the Green-Tradewater River Basin Team or check out the Internetaddresses listed.

More Web SitesN.C. water quality research center-- for agriculture - http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/bae/programs/extension/wqg/Resource management practicesphotos - http://earthl.epa.gov/owow/nps/ex-bmps.htmlVolunteer monitoring - http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/vol.htmlNonpoint source information forlocal officials- http://www.lib.uconn.edu/canr/ces/nemo/nsmodule/nsdetail.htmlCenter for Watershed Protection -http://www.pipeline.com/~mrrunoff/US EPA nonpoint source pollution- http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/US EPA wetlands information -http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/EPA’s Watershed Information - http://www.epa.gov/win/Small-scale wastewater treatment- http://www.estd.wvu.edu/nsfc/American Rivers, a river protectionorganization - http://www.amrivers.org/River Network, a river protectionorganization - http://www.rivernetwork.org/Conservation Technology – goodsource for agricultural practicerecommendations - http://ctic.purdue.edu/Mammoth Cave threats - http://hoffman.wku.edu/gis/macathreat.htmThreatended and endangeredspecies - http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.usand http://www.usfws.gov

Always a RiverAvailable from NTIS (#PB93-200905) for $70 plus S&H.Call 1-(800) 553-6847 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET

Aquatic Project WILD Education Activity Guide (K-12) ForKentucky training opportunities or to receive a Guide, call LonnieNelson at (502) 564-7109.

A Teacher’s Guide to Man and the Biosphere: Protecting,Conserving, and Using Our Narural Resources (Middle and HighSchool)

For training opportunities or to receive a Guide, call MammothCave National Park’s Environmental Education Office at (502)758-2354.

Curriculum and Resource Guide (Middle and High School)For training opportunities or to receive a Guide, contact AmericanCave Conservation Association at (502) 786-1466.

Learning to Live With Caves and Karst: a Cave and KarstProject WET (Water Education for Teachers) Curriculum andActivity Guide (K-12)

For Kentucky training opportunities or to receive a Guide, contactJennifer Lynn at (606) 289-5308

Teacher’s Guide To Kentucky’s Environment (Middle & HighSchool)

To receive a Guide, call Kentucky Environmental QualityCommission at (502) 564-2150 ext. 160.

WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands: An Educator’s Guide (K-12)For information or to purchase a Guide, contact one of the co-publishers: The Watercourse at (406) 994-5392 or EnvironmentalConcern at (410) 745-9620

For More Information

Contact a local office:Conservation District, for assistance with projects (502) 564-3080.Cooperative Extension Service, for fact sheets related to water

quality issues (859) 257-1846.Contact a regional office:Area Development District, for technical resources (502) 875-2515.Lower Green and Tradewater Rivers Watershed Watch (volunteer

monitoring): (270) 685-2034Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission: (800) 359 - 3977RC &D (agricultural practices) (859) 224-7403

University-based environmental education center, for relatedresources and workshops.

Western Kentucky University Center for Water Resource Studies:(270) 745-5945

Contact a state office:County Solid Waste Coordinator (illegal dumping): (502) 564-6716Dead animal removal reports (Ky. Dept. of Agriculture): (502) 564-

3956District Health Department (cleanup days, septic problems and

illegal dumping): (502) 564-4856Division of Water (grants, loans, permits, enforcement): (502) 564-

3410Forest Conservation Act (Ky. Division of Forestry): (502) 564-4496Illegal dumping (Ky. Division of Waste Management): (888) NO

DUMPSKarst information (American Cave Conservation Association): (270)

786-1466Kentucky Agricultural Water Quality Act: (502) 564-3080Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources: (800) 858-

1549Kentucky Environmental Education Council, (502) 564-5937, for

telephone numbers of agencies, organizations and programs.Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission, (502) 564-2150 ext.

160, for reports on the environmental condition of the State ($10/7 reports).

Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission: (502) 573-2886Kentucky Water Watch Program, (502) 564-3410, for information

about water monitoring programs.Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Inc. (river protection groups): (270)

524-1774Ohio River Sweep (Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission

[cleanups]): (800) 359-3977Upper Green River Watershed Watch (volunteer monitoring): (270)

524-1774U. S. Army Corps of Engineers: (502) 315-6471U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, (859) 224-7350, for

technical advice.

For EducatorsListed below are educational references and contacts

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For more informationor additional copies visit the Kentucky Water-shed Management Home page atkywatersheds.org or call (502) 564-3410

Kentucky Division of Water14 Reilly RoadFrankfort, KY 40601

Bob Adams, Ky. Division of WaterSteve Alexander, US Fish & Wildlife

ServiceDavid Burton, Barren River District

Health DeptSheryl Chino, Barren River ADDDr. Nicholas C. Crawford, Western

Kentucky UniversityAloma Dew, Sierra ClubJack Eversole, Barren River ADDDavid Foster, American Cave Conserva-

tionBuddy Giesecke, NRCSDr. Christopher G. Groves, Western Ky.

UniversityDr. Scott Grubbs, Western Ky. Univer-

sityJill Hartley, Bowling Green Municpal

UtilitiesMargi Jones, Ky. Division of WaterDr. Richie Kessler, The Nature

Conservancy

Stephen Kessler, Ky. Division ofWaste Management

Bonny Laflin, Ky. Dept. Fish andWildlife

Owen “Kayo” Maddox, Ky. Division ofForestry

Dr. Ouida Meier, Western Ky.University

Joe Meiman, National Park ServicePatrick Neichter, U.S. Army Corps of

EngineersJudy Petersen, Ky. Waterways

AllianceDale Reynolds, Green/Tradewater

Basin CoordinatorSue Anne Salmon, Kentuckians for

the CommonwealthRitchie Taylor, Western Ky. UniversityJim Widlak, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

ServiceDr. Terry Wilson, Western Ky.

University

The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet and WesternKentucky University do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationalorigin, sex, age, religion, or disability and provide, on request, reasonableaccommodations including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford anindividual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in all services,programs, and activities. These materials can be provided in alternativeformats to any individual with a disability.

To request materials in an alternative format, contact:Kentucky Division of Water14 Reilly RoadFrankfort, KY 40601(502) 564-3410

Cooperating members of the Green and Tradewater Riverbasins:

Green River Bluffs, Mammoth Cave National Park