Author: Kara Back-Campbell
Major Program: Urban Environments (water issues)
The horticulture agent collaborated with Campbellsville's local MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Coordinator, and an extension associate who assists with the development and implementation of faculty led sustainability initiatives within communities. It was made known within the first meeting that a rebranding effort was needed to educate, and create a positive public opinion with the residents of Campbellsville. The horticulture agent contacted the local university's des
Author: Steven Musen
Recent research shows that nutrient loads from urban areas meet or exceed the agricultural sector. Primary inputs to urban runoff include fertilizers, natural amendments, and lawn debris which contribute nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to our stormwater systems. The 234 soil tests that were submitted and fertilizer recommendations that were provided by the Jessamine County Extension Office in FY 2018-19 and the more than one million soil test results collected over a 25-year from the Commonwealt
Author: Lorilee Kunze
Waste water and good stewardship of environmental resources in Kentucky has been a concern for many years and with the implementation of new legislation in 2016 it became more important than ever for the Extension service to partner with MS4 communities in our county in order to provide educational opportunities for Bullitt county citizens regarding reducing water consumption, reducing runoff, and reducing pollution in runoff. Approximately 50% of Bullitt County residents are connec
Author: DJ Scully
On February 23, 2017, the Campbell County Extension Agent for Natural Resources and Environmental Management hosted a class on septic system management because 40% of Kentucky homes have septic systems that provide on-site wastewater management. Most homeowner do not know of their septic systems or proper management. This is an issue because septic systems need regular maintenance to function correctly. Failing septic systems release partially treated and untreated human waste into t
Author: Suzette Walling
The US EPA regulates stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to minimize the introduction of pollutants into streams, lakes and rivers. In Kentucky, there are over 100 permitted MS4s in 32 counties, which comprise approximately two thirds of the state’s current population. These regulated communities are charged with managing their stormwater runoff in a responsible manner that re
Author: Ed Wilcox
There aren't many commercial passenger vessels operating on the Kentucky River. Standing out amongst the competition can be a challenge. Kentucky State University's Kentucky River Thorobred is a unique educational experience among passenger services on the Kentucky River.No other institution of higher learning operates a vessel for delivering environmental education programs. The programs are informed by current research and passengers feel the programming is relevant a
Author: Adam Leonberger
According to the EPA, nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snow melt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters, where they cause harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife. Excess fertilizers, herbicides an
Author: Brad Lee
As dogs become more popular and human populations concentrate in urbanized areas, management of canine excrement will become more important. Nutrient contribution quantity to stormwater attributable to canine sources are not known to the regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System communities (MS4s). Quantification of nutrients from canines is particularly important to states like Kentucky, which ranks 3rd in the nation in canines per household. Individually packaged excrement sa
The Kentucky Bluegrass region is well known for its natural soil fertility. It is also home to the Golden Triangle, which had the largest population gain in Kentucky based on the most recent census. As new development occurs in this growing area, homeowners and lawn care companies will be applying fertilizers to their lawns and gardens. These excess applications of fertilizer will put our waterways at risk of environmental contamination. To address this concern, a team fr
Civic groups in Frankfort, Kentucky have been attempting to revitalize Frankfort. These groups want to increase tourism, residential opportunities in the downtown area, and recreational use of the Kentucky River among other concerns. These civic groups see the Kentucky River Thorobred as a must have feature of Frankfort’s community. Ed Wilcox, Kentucky State Unversity’s Watershed Research and Extension Associate and the manager of the Kentucky River Thorobred, sits o
According to the EPA, the average household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste per year. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive and toxic require special care when you dispose of them. The EPA has delegated the oversight of hazardous waste in Kentucky to the Division of Waste Management. The Division pro
Author: Roger Mollette
Water quality has been an issue in Martin County for several years. Due to the potential health hazards the College of Public Health and Department of Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Kentucky received a grant to study water quality in Martin County. The water quality program will continue for several months and will repeat tests on water from different areas of the county to study not only quality of water but any changes that occur during the testing period. The
Due to a lack of commercial navigation on the Kentucky River, the Army Corps of Engineers closed all 14 of the locks and dams along the Kentucky River in the late 1980s. Shortly after, the Kentucky River Authority assumed control of the Kentucky River and after years of planning and preparation, locks one through four were reopened in 2012. Very few people, including recreational boaters, are aware it is again possible to travel from the Ohio River to Frankfort, KY via the Kentucky Riv
