The Agriculture Water Quality Authority was established by the Agriculture Water Quality Act (KRS 224.71-100 through 224.71-140) by the 1994 General Assembly. The members of the authority are appointed by the governor to represent the state’s agriculture and environmental community while developing and supporting a statewide agricultural water quality plan.
The statewide agriculture water quality plan is an effort to produce a practical, flexible, coordinated natural resources management system that protects the waters of the Commonwealth and complies with applicable government rules and regulations. It is based on pollution prevention through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). KRS 224.71 defines BMPs as the most effective, practical and economical means of reducing and preventing water pollution. BMPs establish minimum acceptable quality levels of planning, siting, designing, installing, operating and maintaining agriculture and silviculture facilities and operations.
The current, approved BMPs can all be viewed here.
Upcoming meeting dates are below. Unless otherwise specified, meetings will be held at 300 Sower Boulevard in Frankfort.
Feb. 8, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Feb. 12, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (Livestock Subcommittee Meeting)
April 11, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at the Eden Shale Farm
Aug, 22, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. at the Kentucky State Fair
Nov. 21, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Agriculture Water Quality Authority Members
Member | Organization |
Randy McCallon | Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts |
John Chism | Kentucky Department of Agriculture |
Amanda Gumbert | UK College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service |
Larry Thomas | Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation |
Vacant | Kentucky Division of Conservation |
Beth Williams | Kentucky Division of Forestry |
Chuck Taylor | Kentucky Geological Survey |
Fred Sipes | Member-at-large Agr. Operations |
Chris Howard | Environmental Groups |
Joseph Sisk | Member-at-large Agr. Operations |
Vacant | Natural Resources Conservation Service (ex-officio) |
Vacant | Kentucky Division of Water (ex-officio) |
Vacant | Kentucky Department of Health Services (ex-officio) |
Megan Bailey-Komar | Member-at-large Agr. Operations |
Dean Schamore | US Farm Service Agency |