Energy and Environment Cabinet

The 2010 report is based primarily on results from monitoring performed between April 2007 and March 2009 in the Big Sandy-Little Sandy-Tygarts and Kentucky River basin management units (BMUs). Monitoring and assessment was performed on 282 stream segments representing 1,157 stream miles in the Big Sandy-Little Sandy-Tygarts BMU and 443 stream segments totaling 2,239 stream miles in the Kentucky River BMU. Publicly accessible reservoirs (lakes) were monitored and assessed from those two BMUs of focus. The report also incorporates assessment data and results from monitoring that occurred during this reporting cycle outside of the BMUs of focus, thus providing a statewide update of monitoring results.

The 2010 report shows that the two major causes of water bodies not fully supporting uses were sedimentation/siltation and pathogens. The two major sources of these pollutants were runoff from agricultural activities and habitat modification.