Public comment sought on draft report of minor Ohio River tributaries

The report is part of the Kentucky Statewide Bacteria TMDL

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – The Kentucky Division of Water is currently seeking public comment on a draft report that addresses bacteria-impaired streams of minor tributary watersheds of the Ohio River in 14 counties.

This Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, report provides critical information needed to restore water quality in these waters.

“Total Maximum Daily Load” refers to the amount of a pollutant a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards. Standards for E. coli and fecal coliform bacteria are intended to protect the health of those using surface waters for swimming, wading, boating, and other recreation.

The Clean Water Act requires each state to periodically identify specific waters in which standards are not being met and then to develop a TMDL for the pollutants not meeting standards.  TMDL reports are made available to the public for review and comment prior to submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

The new report will complete TMDLs for 49 impaired stream segments in the following counties: Ballard, Boyd, Bracken, Breckinridge, Campbell, Crittenden, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, and Union.

The report is part of the Kentucky Statewide Bacteria TMDL, an ongoing effort which will complete TMDLs for more than 350 stream segments by the end of this year. 

To read the draft report, visit the Division of Water website at https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water/Pages/Water-Public-Notices-and-Hearings.aspx.

To learn more about how TMDLs help to support water quality restoration, visit the TMDL program website at https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water/Protection/TMDL/Pages/default.aspx.

Comments on the draft report submitted by email or mail must be dated or postmarked no later than July 25, 2022. Comments may be sent:

--Via email (preferred method) to: TMDL@ky.gov (Subject line: “Statewide Bacteria TMDL”).

--By U.S. Mail to: Water Quality Branch (ATTN: Statewide Bacteria TMDL) Kentucky Division of Water 300 Sower Blvd., 3rd Floor Frankfort, KY 40601.

For assistance, questions, or more information, please contact the TMDL program at TMDL@ky.gov or call 502-564-3410.