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Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Healthy Watershed Program, administered by the Kentucky Division of Water, focuses on protecting and restoring the natural integrity of watersheds across the state. This program emphasizes proactive measures to maintain water quality, enhance ecosystem resilience, and support biodiversity. By engaging local communities, agencies, and stakeholders, the program promotes sustainable practices, such as riparian restoration, erosion control, and pollution prevention. Through education, technical assistance, and funding opportunities, the Healthy Watershed Program works to ensure long-term ecological health, economic vitality, and community well-being within Kentucky’s watersheds.

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The Kentucky Division of Water has initiated the development of a Healthy Watershed Program to enhance and protect the state’s aquatic resources. This year, efforts have centered on a pilot project in the Buck Creek watershed, funded by the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 program. The project aims to draft a comprehensive watershed plan for this area, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated as critical habitat for mussels. 

Past efforts in the watershed include extensive mussel, macroinvertebrate, and fish surveys. Building on this foundation, the Section 319 program will support additional biological assessments to evaluate ecological changes over the past 30 years. These data will complement traditional water quality monitoring and help inform restoration strategies. Once the watershed plan is finalized, implementation funds will focus on restoring and protecting the watershed, with particular emphasis on rare species habitats.
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The Kentucky Healthy Watershed Program will adopt a landscape-scale conservation approach, similar to Maryland’s GreenPrint program. This strategy prioritizes larger conservation areas for protection. The Division of Water is currently finalizing the tools and criteria to guide this process effectively.​​​

Alice Mandt, Upper Cumberland River Basin Coordinator
Mandt@ky.gov​
(502) 782-7169

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
300 Sower Blvd
Frankfort, KY 40601

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The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability or sex. This policy protects the rights of Cabinet employees, service applicants and customers. Vendors, agencies and organizations providing services to the Cabinet or its recipients of federally-aided programs also must comply with this policy.

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