f.y.i. from the Herald Leader today:


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Most Ky. rivers don't make grade
70% OF 4,500 MILES OF STREAMS POLLUTED
By Andy Mead
AMEAD@HERALD-LEADER.COM

Kentucky's extensive network of rivers and streams is under assault on a wide variety of fronts, from channelization and land clearing for development to agriculture, urban runoff and coal mining, according to a report.

The report, called the 2008 Integrated Report to Congress on Water Quality in Kentucky, is required under the Clean Water Act. It is issued every two years.

The report found that, of 4,500 miles of waterways assessed, 70 percent did not support what is called "primary contact recreation" such as swimming. That is a nearly 47 percent increase from the 2006 report.

But Randy Payne, the report's primary author, said there have been improvements in some areas, including the North Fork of the Kentucky River. Poorly treated sewage from straight pipes and faulty wastewater treatment plants have caused the state to advise against summer swimming there for years.

But conditions have improved to such an extent that there is talk of lifting the ban, Payne said.

The report found that the probable cause of impaired rivers and stream were, in order, habitat related (2,850 miles), agriculture (2,887 miles), urban or municipal 2,343 miles), mining (1,671 miles), and residential related (1,084 miles).

Kentucky evaluates river basins on a rotating basis. The current report concentrates on the Four River-Upper Cumberland basin, and the Green-Tradewater basin. Tests from other basins also are included.

A second volume of the report also lists waterways that are considered impaired.

Reach Andy Mead at (859) 231-3319 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3319.