Kentucky has over 91,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 225,000 acres of ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. These water resources not only play a vital role in Kentucky’s drinking water systems, but also are imperative to our agriculture industry. Each day in Kentucky, 81 million gallons of surface water and 4 million gallons of groundwater are withdrawn for agricultural use. In addition, these resources are 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 wildlife-related recreation in 2011.

University of Kentucky Boone County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with Boone County Conservation, and University of Kentucky 4-H to create a dynamic Youth Stream Team program. Eight teen participants in the program met monthly and gained a wide range of knowledge concerning their local water ways through hands-on learning experiences.  Some of the activities included electro-fishing, seining, wildlife identification, watershed hikes, and chemistry tests.

Youth learned important ecological issues within local Boone County streams and how to test for quantitative and qualitative data which was input into the Kentucky Water Watch citizen science program.  Not only did youth learn stream monitoring and restoration skills that could be used in future science careers, but data collected can be used by law makers, scientists and other stakeholders to make future decisions that may impact the 143 miles of perennial line streams that make up the Gunpowder Creek watershed.

In addition to learning about a variety of testing parameters and biological assessments, used by professional biologist today, participants helped plan, market and lead a community Stream Clean event that benefited the Gunpowder Creek watershed and its local residents.

Additional Partners and Presenters

1. Boone County Public Works
2. Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky 
3. Northern Kentucky University 

References: KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; KY Division of Forestry; KY Energy and Environment Cabinet; KY Geological Survey; University of Kentucky Department of Forestry; U.S. Census Berea; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Photo Credit: Susan Brown, Boone County Conservation District