Extension
It Starts With Us
Water Quality in Urban Environments
Best Management Practices and Education for Safe Food, Farms & Families
Carpenter, Norton, Aldenderfer
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Chemical Management
Soil testing
Integrated Pest Management
Kentucky has over 90,000 miles of streams and rivers. Many of these stream miles are impaired by pollution such as sediment, bacteria, and excess nutrients. Urban areas, agricultural areas, and construction sites are examples of sources of these pollutants. Landowners are often confused about how to manage challenges associated with streams on their property. Regulatory restrictions concerning stream maintenance can be confusing and many streams are subject to increased erosion, scoured streambanks, and pollution from adjacent land uses.
Reduction of lawn, landscape and garden additives.
Reduce level of pollutants in stormwater.
Improve level of water quality in stream segments within and adjacent to communities.
Reduce environmental impact to water, soil, or air.
Protect and improve water quality.
Improve efficiency of manure handling.
Maximize profits for ag producers.
Reduce environmental impacts of winter feeding areas.
Develop or update water quality plans.
Adopt best practices for water quality, nutrient and/or soil management.
Evaluate weather and physical conditions when making management decisions.
Residents implement BMP's on their property or in their community.
Make informed decisions on use of lawn, landscape, farm, and garden additives.
Soil test and apply plant nutrients accordingly.
Direct downspouts to pervious surfaces.
Adopt appropriate fallen livestock disposal practices.
Participants will be able to define watershed, stormwater, and impervious surfaces.
Observe or participate in BMP implementation.
Learn how to take a soil test.
Understand the benefits of native plants and non-aggressive perennials in the landscape.
Recognize the water quality issues/needs on their property, at their school, and/or in the community.
Understand the importance of clean water.
Increase knowledge of BMP's for protecting and improving water quality.
Recognize best management practices for soil conservation.
Identify best management practices for nutrient management.
Initial Outcome: Learn how to take soil test.
Indicator: Publication distribution and requests.
Method: Increase in first time participants.
Timeline: ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: Develop or update water quality plans.
Indicator: Requests received at County SWCD.
Method: Counts
Timeline: Winter and Spring yearly
Long-term Outcome: Improve level of water quality in stream segments within and adjacent to county MS4 communities.
Indicator: Water quality test results.
Method: Water surveys.
Timeline: Summer yearly
Audience: County Residents
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Certification
Content or Curriculum: Water Quality Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialists, training materials, fees
Date: Fall of even years: 2024
Audience: Farm owners, managers, operators
Project or Activity: Master Cattlemen Program
Content or Curriculum: Environmental Stewardship
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, agents, NRCS, publications, Ag Water Quality Plans.
Date: on-going
Audience: Farm operators, owners, managers
Project or Activity: Water Quality and Nutrient Management Plans, Family Education Day with Hardin Water District #1
Content or Curriculum: Private Pesticide Training and Certification, UK Publications, DOW Research Data
Inputs: UK Extension Specialist, Agents, NRCS, SWCD, publications, Hardin Water District #1 Personnel
Date: Spring of Odd years
Audience: County Residents
Project or Activity: Rain Garden Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Rain Garden Curriculum, Water Plant displays. Guest Speakers
Inputs: Extension Agents, Local Water Department personnel, MS4 contacts, State Specialists, training materials, fees
Date: Fall 2024
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Describe the Issue or Situation.What began as a short-term stopgap for in person programming during the 2020 Pandemic, has become a much-attended weekly horticulture program. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Due to the continuing popularity of the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays program a team of Kentucky Horticulture agents have continued to present weekly Wednesday webinars at 12:30 ET (11:30 CT) as a “lunch and learn” horticu
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Describe the Issue or Situation.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.
