May 2015
M any may consider Kentucky a
“water-rich” state with over 90,000 miles of streams and rivers, thousands of ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands, and approximately 49 inches of precipitation per year. So, it’s not surprising that water, one of our most valuable natural resources, is often taken for granted.
In Kentucky, over 9,000 miles of streams have been documented as being impaired. An impaired stream is a stream that is too polluted or degraded to meet Kentucky Division of
Water’s water quality standards.
The distance from New York to Los Angeles is approximately 2,800 miles. We have over 3 times as many miles of documented impaired streams in Kentucky.
Over 3.2 million Kentuckians get their drinking water from public drinking water systems that rely in part on streams.
Streams provide a source of recreation for anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers. A survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Census Berea reported that 1.7 million people fished, hunted, or viewed wildlife in Kentucky in
2011. That same survey stated that $2.9 billion were spent in Kentucky on wildliferelated recreation in 2011.
Kentucky farmers depend on clean water to produce crops and raise livestock. Each day in Kentucky, 81 million gallons of surface water and 4 million gallons of groundwater are withdrawn for agricultural use.

Kentucky is home to diverse wildlife, many of which are dependent upon healthy streams to live and thrive.
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Kentucky ranks third in the nation
 regarding native freshwater mussel diversity and fourth in the nation with respect to native freshwater fish diversity.
 Although some of Kentucky’s frogs and toads may prefer a pond or wetland, all require water to breed and lay their eggs.
Of Kentucky’s 14 turtle species, all but one are aquatic, leaving the water only to migrate to other waterbodies or lay their eggs .
A stream is not only affected by what is flowing into it, but also by what is happening on the land surrounding it. Failing septic systems, illegal dumping, urban development, and improper agricultural practices can all negatively impact a stream.
The foll ow are simple tips to keep Kentucky’s waters clean.
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Keep your vehicle in good working condition.
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Pick up after your pet.
Seed or mulch areas that are bare soil to
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 prevent erosion.
Install a rain barrel.
Plant a rain garden.
Never dump anything down a storm drain or sinkhole.
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Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly.
Dispose of trash properly.
Don’t dispose of hazardous waste down sinks or toilets.
References: KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; KY Geological Survey; U.S. Census Berea;
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Image Citation: UK CAFE
Kentucky Water Awareness Month 2015
Ashley Osborne, E: ashley.osborne@uky.edu
, P:859-257-2505