DRAINS TO STREAMS Community Service Project:

One important goal for Leslie County Extension is to participate in community service.  Water quality and pollution is a great concern for our county.  We feel that raising awareness can result in change and improve our community. Drains to Streams is an environmental awareness service project that we were inspired to complete through participation at Kentucky 4-H State Teen Conference.   

Water quality information available through Kentucky's Water Health Portal (watermaps.ky.gov) provided some insight to Leslie County water resources.  These maps show waterways in Leslie County that have been assessed by the Kentucky Division of Water for their ability to support drinking water quality, recreation and aquatic life.  There are lots of areas in Leslie County considered Outstanding State Resource Waters based on the sampling conducted by the Division of Water.  There are also areas threatened due to pollution, sediments and soil entering from streambank erosion, mining, and oil and gas drilling activities.   Standards for supporting healthy aquatic life and also meeting standards for safe recreation are present concerns as well. 

Hope in creating healthier and safer water resources in Leslie County can begin with each of us being more aware and mindful of protecting our storm drains here in our city of Hyden.  As storm water moves across lawns and paved areas, it picks up bacteria, nutrients, sediments, heavy metals, and chemicals before traveling through the storm sewers to our water bodies. Because storm water is not cleaned or treated, it may create harmful conditions for the environment and for us.

  Leslie County 4-H Teens and NRESci Academy Scholars participated in painting two storm drains in downtown Hyden, located close to Leslie County Extension.  They included a message of “Drains to Streams” to our community to educate, inform and encourage everyone to protect our drains from pollutants.  This awareness to not litter are beginning steps toward our common goal.  

This community service project openly provides an ongoing educational message and invitation to everyone walking by for this needed effort in protecting our environment. Together we can reach this important goal in protecting our environment. 

Sources: watermaps.ky.gov; Ashley Osborne, University of Kentucky, Extension Specialist for 4-H Youth Development