Beargrass creek

What is a watershed? Where does the water go after a rain event? How does AHS shed water and where does it go? What is an impermeable substance?

Watershed the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.

The Water Cycle

Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, state, and national boundaries. In the continental US, there are 2,110 watersheds. Kentucky has more waterways than any other state except Alaska.

Beargrass Creek has several forks in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The Beargrass Creek watershed is the largest in the county, draining over 60 square miles and empties in to the Ohio River x

BEARGRASS CREEK

Bardstown road  Louisville  Ohio River Channelized/ Impervious Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in the area. Fecal coliform Fast moving storm water Physical pressures, high water fluctuations during storm events, and microbiological effects result in severe impacts on both habitat and the biological communities in the streams

Water Management Gutters and down spouts Detention Basins Infiltration Basins Storm drains Ditches Rain gardens Rain barrels

Assumption Impervious pavement Parking lot pollution Gutters - flooding Detention basin - Slows water, but still does not recharge ground water table.

Combined Sewer/Storm

LOCAL Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) WICKLAND AVE There are 102 CSO’s on the Middle and South Forks of Beargrass Creek.

Groundwater Groundwater is the part of precipitation that seeps down through the soil.

Our waterways are at the highest and lowest levels seen in history

Beargrass Creek and Impervious Surfaces More roads, parking lots, and roofs prevents precipitation from being absorbed by ground Middle Fork 41% impervious surfaces South Fork 33 % impervious surfaces Muddy Fork 26 % impervious surfaces

Impervious Surfaces and Groundwater Impervious surface keep the ground from absorbing water. Groundwater should slowly flows to stream, especially during drier periods when the streams volume drops. Less ground water causes streams to have higher temperatures in warmer months (due to less water in the stream) Warm water can hold as much oxygen. Lower oxygen levels may kill fish.

Pollution Sediment- number one pollutant in KY streams Fecal coliform Oil, antifreeze, etc from parking lots House hold chemicals: phosphates, Rx, paint, etc House and farm chemicals: Herbicides, pesticides, nitrates, etc Industrial chemicals: Drugs – legal and illegal

Three Ways to Reduce Overflows Construct separate storm and sanitary sewers throughout the combined sewer area (an extremely expensive and disruptive option); Find ways to treat the overflow water before it is discharged into the streams; (also very expensive) Find ways to store the overflow water and release it into the sewer lines later, when the rain is over and the sewers have room for it.

Solutions: Permeable surfaces: gravel, grass, special asphalt Infiltration basins Rain gardens Rain barrels Bio swales

Green Features Reunite Water Cycle Slow down storm run off By absorbing between 15-90% of rain fall, surface run off is reduced, lessening the impact on the storm water collection systems.

Bio swales Linear ditches with native plants that allow the collection, filtration, and infiltration of storm water. Earthen gutter reduces water velocity allowing infiltration and reduces non-point source pollutants entering the storm sewers.

Rain Garden Allows storm water run off from impervious surfaces to temporarily collect, filter, and infiltrate into the ground. Additionally, the native plants encourage biodiversity and provide habitat for wild life.

How Can YOU Make A Difference? Become a volunteer water monitor Organize a trash clean up Build a rain garden at your house Organize a Stream Drain Marking project Practice environmentally friendly yard care

WATERDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Groups of 4 FUN!!! ENTERTAINING!!! EDUCATIONAL!!! AHS WATERSHED AND PROBLEMS

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