Kentucky.gov

A draft report addressing water quality problems related to pathogens is available for public comment.  The report, Proposed Draft Total Maximum Daily Load for Pathogens, Little River Watershed, Lower Cumberland Basin, Kentucky), has been prepared as required by the federal Clean Water Act.  This report addresses pathogen impairments in the Little River and two of its tributaries, North Fork Little River and South Fork Little River. These watersheds are located in Christian, Trigg and Todd counties.

Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires each state to periodically identify specific waters where water quality problems exist.  The state is also required to prioritize the list of impaired waters and calculate an allowable amount of pollutants for those waters (TMDL). This report is part of the process to improve water quality in these streams.

Little River from river mile (RM) 33.1 to RM 61.0 was initially identified in Kentucky’s 1998 303(d) report as impaired for swimming because of pathogens. North Fork Little River from RM 0.0 to RM 16.2 and South Fork Little River from RM 0.0 to RM 19.9 were first listed as impaired because of pathogens in Kentucky’s 2002 303(d) report.

The Division of Water is asking for comments on this proposed draft report.  Revisions to the report may be made based on public comment.  The revised report will then be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review, comment and approval. If approved, the stream segments will be placed in Category 4A (a list of all stream segments with EPA-approved TMDLs) for pathogens in the next Integrated Report to Congress on Water Quality in Kentucky.  

The draft report may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.water.ky.gov/sw/tmdl/TMDLs+Under+Development.htm.  For print copies, contact Eric Liebenauer at the Division of Water, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601, or by telephone at 502-564-3410.  Comments in writing or by e-mail at eppc.dowwqb@ky.gov will be accepted until May 23.