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Assessment Data for the State of Kentucky Year 2002

National Assessment Database
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Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)

National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress, 2002 Reporting Cycle

The 2002 National Assessment
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(Fact Sheet)

Previous National Water Quality Reports

EnviroMapper for Water

Impaired Water Information
2002 303(d) List Report

Other Water Assessment Information
The most current report available for this state is 2008.
Data are also available for these years: 2004 2006



State of Kentucky websites:

State 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report(s)
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Total Assessed Waters for the State of Kentucky

Description of this table

Size Of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 9,591.95 217,597.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in KY 49,105.00 228,385.00 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 19.53 95.28 Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of Kentucky by Watershed

Description of this table
Watershed Size of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles)
BARREN 23.50 10,109.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BAYOU DE CHIEN-MAYFIELD 186.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BIG SANDY .00 2,242.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HIGHLAND-PIGEON .00 18.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
KENTUCKY LAKE 46.10 48,100.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LICKING 12.60 9,148.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LITTLE SANDY .00 1,693.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LITTLE SCIOTO-TYGARTS 7.00 187.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER CUMBERLAND 223.30 46,509.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER GREEN .00 94.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER KENTUCKY 12.50 3,773.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER LEVISA .00 2,239.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER MISSISSIPPI-MEMPHIS 20.50 380.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER OHIO 37.10 249.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER OHIO-BAY .00 53.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOWER TENNESSEE 170.65 93,700.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE FORK KENTUCKY .00 1,230.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE GREEN .00 1,191.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIDDLE OHIO-LAUGHERY 4.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NORTH FORK KENTUCKY 5.50 840.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OBEY 10.20 4,300.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OBION 23.65 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OHIO BRUSH-WHITEOAK 1.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POND .00 97.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RED 82.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ROCKCASTLE 161.55 1,032.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ROLLING FORK .00 331.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ROUGH .00 5,201.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SALT .00 3,462.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SILVER-LITTLE KENTUCKY .00 191.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH FORK CUMBERLAND 119.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH FORK KENTUCKY .00 36.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOUTH FORK LICKING .00 114.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TRADEWATER 4.40 1,339.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TUG .00 22.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CUMBERLAND 621.00 7,120.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER CUMBERLAND-LAKE CUMBERLAND 303.05 50,250.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER GREEN .00 14,594.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER KENTUCKY 22.40 67.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPPER LEVISA .00 1,143.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
Name Not Reported 7,492.85 242.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00


Kentucky Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 9,591.95 53.87 1.96 44.16 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 2,850.15 36.36 2.51 61.13 color.gifcolor.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 1,610.10 93.24 6.76 .00 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 2,369.90 61.94 .00 38.06 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 9,591.95 miles of rivers and streams, or 19.53% of 49,105.00 total miles.

Kentucky Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 5,114.80 53.32
Threatened 161.40 1.68
Impaired 4,315.75 44.99
Total Miles Assessed 9,591.95 100.00

Kentucky Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 1,885.00
2 PATHOGENS 1,586.45
3 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 781.00
4 OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 738.05
5 NUTRIENTS 665.45
6 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 534.45
7 CAUSE UNKNOWN 322.70
8 FLOW ALTERATION 305.25
9 MERCURY 228.80
10 PH 199.65

Kentucky Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 AGRICULTURE 1,629.10
2 SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,545.35
3 HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 660.40
4 RESOURCE EXTRACTION 527.30
5 LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 511.40
6 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 502.60
7 LAND DISPOSAL 466.90
8 CROP PRODUCTION (CROP LAND OR DRY LAND) 445.95
9 MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 429.30
10 LOSS OF RIPARIAN HABITAT 382.10

Kentucky Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation Fish, Shellfish, and Wildlife Protection and Propagation 217,597.00 55.32 .00 44.68 color.gifcolor.gif
Recreation Recreation 6,919.00 42.49 .00 57.51 color.gifcolor.gif
Public Water Supply Public Water Supply 201,810.00 99.15 .00 .85 color.gifcolor.gif
Aquatic Life Harvesting Aquatic Life Harvesting 203,513.00 56.85 .00 43.15 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 217,597.00 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 95.28% of 228,385.00 total acres.

Kentucky Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 120,372.00 55.32
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 97,225.00 44.68
Total Acres Assessed 217,597.00 100.00

Kentucky Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 MERCURY 58,924.00
2 METALS 28,901.00
3 PRIORITY ORGANICS 8,210.00
4 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 8,210.00
5 NUTRIENTS 7,676.00
6 ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 6,035.00
7 TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 1,810.00
8 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 1,368.00
9 ODOR THRESHOLD NUMBER 811.00
10 OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 413.00

Kentucky Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 SOURCE UNKNOWN 80,200.00
2 AGRICULTURE 8,975.00
3 INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 8,210.00
4 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 4,309.00
5 LAND DISPOSAL 4,098.00
6 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 4,098.00
7 CHANGES IN ORDINARY STRATIFICATION AND BOTTOM WATER HYPOXIA/ANOXIA 3,366.00
8 NATURAL SOURCES 2,416.00
9 SURFACE MINING 1,810.00
10 RESOURCE EXTRACTION 1,230.00

Kentucky

Causes of Impairment

Description of this table
State Cause Name Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Squar Miles)
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) 64.90 1,810.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ZINC 5.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CAUSE UNKNOWN 322.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PRIORITY ORGANICS 28.00 8,210.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS 130.80 28,901.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PATHOGENS 1,586.45 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SUSPENDED ALGAE 24.50 139.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UNKNOWN TOXICITY 19.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AMMONIA (UNIONIZED) - TOXIN 39.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ORGANIC ENRICHMENT/LOW DO 534.45 6,035.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 781.00 8,210.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 194.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TEMPERATURE, WATER 6.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ODOR THRESHOLD NUMBER .00 811.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE FISH/SHELLFISH/ZOOPLANKTON SPECIES 14.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MERCURY 228.80 58,924.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHLORINE 15.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RADIATION 13.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OIL AND GREASE 9.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLOW ALTERATION 305.25 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NONPRIORITY ORGANICS 15.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NUTRIENTS 665.45 7,676.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PHOSPHORUS, ELEMENTAL 33.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 1,885.00 1,368.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 3.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER HABITAT ALTERATIONS 738.05 413.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PH 199.65 219.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPER 20.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SALINITY 151.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TURBIDITY 165.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PESTICIDES 5.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

Kentucky

Probable Sources Contributing to Impairment

Description of this table
State Source Name Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles)
OTHER .00 21.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LAND DISPOSAL 466.90 4,098.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER URBAN RUNOFF 3.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RESOURCE EXTRACTION 527.30 1,230.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS .00 18.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SILVICULTURE HARVESTING 147.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION 28.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION 261.95 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FOREST ROADS (ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND USE) 13.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HABITAT MODIFICATION (OTHER THAN HYDROMODIFICATION) 660.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ILLEGAL DUMPS OR OTHER INAPPROPRIATE WASTE DISPOSAL 26.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS (COLLECTION SYSTEM FAILURES) 39.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RECREATION AND TOURISM ACTIVITIES (OTHER THAN BOATING - SEE 7900) 22.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
RANGELAND (UNMANAGED PASTURE) GRAZING .70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IMPACTS FROM ABANDONED MINE LANDS (INACTIVE) 112.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SITE CLEARANCE (LAND DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT) 100.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
UPSTREAM IMPOUNDMENTS (E.G., PL-566 NRCS STRUCTURES) 44.45 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONSTRUCTION 177.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
GOLF COURSES 8.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SILVICULTURE 258.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOSS OF RIPARIAN HABITAT 382.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION 4.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MINOR MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE 50.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 3.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCES OUTSIDE STATE JURISDICTION OR BORDERS 3.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SURFACE MINING 240.00 1,810.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ABANDONED MINING 135.60 219.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SUBSURFACE MINING 123.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MAJOR INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE 6.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (NPS) 45.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INTENSIVE ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS 82.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CROP PRODUCTION (CROP LAND OR DRY LAND) 445.95 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL (URBANIZED HIGH DENSITY AREA) 429.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 219.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HIGHWAYS, ROADS, BRIDGES, INFRASTRUCTURE (NEW CONSTRUCTION) 50.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AGRICULTURE 1,629.10 8,975.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHANNELIZATION 172.65 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MAJOR MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE 98.60 139.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FLOW ALTERATIONS FROM WATER DIVERSIONS 17.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - RIPARIAN AND/OR UPLAND 92.35 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHANGES IN ORDINARY STRATIFICATION AND BOTTOM WATER HYPOXIA/ANOXIA .00 3,366.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 310.40 4,098.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DREDGE MINING 26.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NATURAL SOURCES 59.00 2,416.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SEPTAGE DISPOSAL 1.50 98.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION 1.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 17.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - RIPARIAN 27.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SILVICULTURAL POINT SOURCES 12.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MINOR INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE 6.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HIGHWAY/ROAD/BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION 57.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DRAINAGE/FILLING/LOSS OF WETLANDS 10.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 502.60 4,309.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SILVICULTURE PLANTATION MANAGEMENT 2.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
GRAZING IN RIPARIAN OR SHORELINE ZONES 7.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LIVESTOCK (GRAZING OR FEEDING OPERATIONS) 511.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HIGHWAY/ROAD/BRIDGE RUNOFF (NON-CONSTRUCTION RELATED) 1.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PETROLEUM/NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (PERMITTED) 53.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SPILLS FROM TRUCKS OR TRAINS 3.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DAM CONSTRUCTION (OTHER THAN UPSTREAM FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS) 3.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PERMITTED RUNOFF FROM CONFINED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (CAFOS) 4.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 1,545.35 80,200.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
HYDROMODIFICATION 199.15 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ACID MINE DRAINAGE 91.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL PERMITTED 5.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-INDUSTRIAL PERMITTED 4.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PASTURE GRAZING - UPLAND 49.30 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SPECIALITY CROP PRODUCTION 3.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 194.50 8,210.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DREDGING (E.G., FOR NAVIGATION CHANNELS) 66.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PACKAGE PLANT OR OTHER PERMITTED SMALL FLOWS DISCHARGES 109.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

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