Water, Water Everywhere But Not a Drop to Drink

For many high school juniors and seniors, the summer is a time to relax and unwind; studying and solving environmental problems is not on the forefront of many of their minds. However, for a group of Robinson Scholars, studying water quality issues in Kentucky has been a part of their summer experience for the past several years.

Teaming up with the Kentucky Water Resource Research Institute (KWRRI), students in the Robinson Scholars Program have learned about watersheds through the Commonwealth Collaborative program, Water Pioneers. Students then applied this knowledge during their Academic Explorers program, July 11 – 17 on UK's campus, to the Cane Run Watershed Project.

Deemed a priority watershed by the Kentucky Division of Water for restoration and protection, the Cane Run watershed is located in Fayette and Scott counties. Its headwaters begin on the north side of Lexington near New Circle Road and flow to Royal Springs Aquifer in Georgetown. It’s also the source for drinking water for residents of Georgetown, which makes it a top priority for restoration.

Raw sewage and trash are two major pollutants that are affecting the quality of this watershed, but are not the only difficulty it is facing. The area inside the watershed has been an ever increasing site in past years for construction jobs and urban developmental work. When the soil is exposed and nothing is on top of it to hold it in place, it erodes quickly and is often swept into creeks and streams.

"Most people believe that the top pollutant in our rivers and streams are things like pop bottles, plastic bags or harmful chemicals but the number one pollutant in Kentucky is sediment," said Jessica Thornsberry, a junior Robinson Scholar from Lawrence County.

Failing septic systems are also damaging the Cane Run watershed.

“Some of the sewer systems are older than I am… we have an aging infrastructure," Mark York of the Department of Environmental Quality for Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government said. "Unfortunately, the faulty areas are typically unknown, and it will take time to pinpoint each exact location."

The city, along with the Cane Run watershed council, have worked together to begin recovering the depleted watershed. One strategy that has been implemented is the impervious area fee. Parking lots, driveways or any paved area prevent rainfall from sinking into the ground. Instead, it runs off into the watershed, carrying with it many pollutants that can be quite damaging.

After learning about the specific problems and some early resolutions facing the Cane Run watershed, scholars began brainstorming solutions. On July 16, students presented their ideas to government officials, members of the Cane Run watershed council and other decision makers.

Some of their suggestions included:

--If you are building a house, it may be a good investment to simply go ahead and purchase pervious materials for roofs, driveways, etc. These materials protect runoff and sediment from building in the watershed.
 

--Invest in rain barrels. These barrels are put under gutters and will catch the rainfall that can be put to use later on watering animals, plants and the environment.
 

--During autumn, when you find yourself with fallen leaves in your yard, don’t simply brush them off into the street to be washed away into the watershed. Rake them and bag them up to be hauled away by the local sanitation department. It may take some time, but the benefits to the watershed are worth it.

There are many other things that can be done to help improve the Cane Run Watershed. To find out more, please visit the Cane Run Watershed Web site and join the Cane Run Rescue Crew group on Facebook.

The Cane Run Watershed Project is a collaborative effort between KWRRI, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service, the Robinson Scholars Program and the Cane Run Watershed Council and is aimed at educating students, individuals and business owners of conditions in the Cane Run watershed and informing them of how they can help the cause.

The Robinson Scholars Program serves first generation college-bound and college students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed but who might encounter economic, cultural or institutional impediments to their completion of four-year college degrees. The Program's mission is to provide these students with support services and scholarship resources that empower them to complete a baccalaureate degree at the University of Kentucky and thereby increase the educational capital of their communities.

* This piece was written in conjunction with the Cane Run Rescue Crew public relations student team. Members of the team are: Georgetta Robinson, Regina Rice, Amanda Barnett, Amanda Newsome, Jessica Thornsberry, Hunter Fraley, Amber Smith, Kelly Ward, Emily Allen, Lan Yang, Stevie Lemons, Kelly Crowe, Keyana Polly, Jessica Bush and Nicole Hensley.