This Web page describes the rationale behind the Salt River Basin Team's selection of priority watersheds in the unit's first Watershed Management Framework cycle.

Beargrass Creek-Saint Matthews (05140101250)
The Beargrass Creek-Saint Matthews watershed drains about 61 square miles in Jefferson County, contains more than 86 total river miles and has well-documented impairment of streams. Beargrass Creek was listed as a First Priority stream in the March 1999 Kentucky Nonpoint Source Status Report. Nearly 50 percent of the land is used for residential purposes, and about 25 percent is described as mixed urban, built-up land and industrial and commercial complexes. Several stream segments in the watershed, such as Middle Fork, South Fork and Muddy Fork of Beargrass Creek, are listed as Partially or Not Supporting Primary Contact in the FY2002 305(b) data assessment. Important issues in this watershed are urbanization, protection of resources, unsewered population and contamination sites. The Beargrass Creek Task Force, Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) and Louisville Water Company (LWC) are a few of the many potential partners that have an interest in the watershed. There is a very high likelihood of success for projects developed in this watershed. Although there are not ongoing or completed Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) in the watershed, the Team feels that this is an excellent candidate watershed to target resources.

Sinking Creek-Hardinsburg (05140104250)
The Sinking Creek-Hardinsburg watershed drains about 226 square miles in Breckenridge, Hardin and Meade counties, contains about 375 total river miles and has documented impairment for Nonsupport of Primary contact or Aquatic Life on Hardins Creek according to the FY2002 305(b) data assessment. Approximately 50 percent of the land is forested and slightly less than 50 percent is used for agricultural purposes, so this is primarily a rural forested watershed with streams impacted by human-induced activities. Important issues in the watershed are the large unsewered population, pressure on natural resources from rapidly growing population, decline of endangered or protected species and agricultural use of pesticides. Much of the watershed is underlain by karst, and more than 75 percent of the area has a high hydrogeologic sensitivity rating that indicates it is highly vulnerable to impacts from contamination. Preliminary contacts made in the watershed indicate a significant interest by local citizens and officials to set up a local watershed task force to address these issues. There is a high likelihood of success for projects developed in this watershed.

Floyds Fork (includes both LaGrange and Fern Creek-Jeffersontown Watersheds) (05140102180)
Floyds Fork-LaGrange and Floyds Fork-Fern Creek-Jeffersontown drain about 284 square miles in Henry, Oldham, Jefferson, Shelby and Bullitt counties and contain about 770 total river miles. Stream segments in both watersheds have documented impairments of Partial or Nonsupport for Primary Contact and Aquatic Life. The entire river reach of Floyds Fork was included as a single Targeted Watershed unit because of the importance of resolving issues related primarily to agriculture in one stream segment and urban and industrial issues in another stream segment within the same river reach. More than 50 percent of the Floyds Fork-LaGrange watershed is used for agricultural purposes, and more than 30 percent is forested. Less than 50 percent of the Floyds Fork-Fern Creek-Jeffersontown watershed is agricultural. However, there is more significant use of land for residential, urban and built-up land, transportation, communications, utility rights-of-way, industrial and commercial complexes. There is a history of documented impairments in both watersheds. In the Nonpoint Source Assessment (March 1999), First and Second Priority streams listed in the report included Chenoweth Run and Pennsylvania Run. Important issues include the large population increase as both watersheds and the entire river reach are transformed from a rural agricultural region to densely populated communities competing for land and other resources with expanding industrial development. Floyds Fork-LaGrange watershed is the source of headwaters for the entire river reach and should be included in any impact analysis of the lower portion of the total watershed. Friends of Floyds Fork, Louisville and Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) and other volunteer organizations are potential partners in addressing issues in these watersheds. There is a high likelihood of success for projects developed in this watershed.

If for any reason, designated Hydrologic Unit is disqualified as a Target Watershed, an alternate watershed is submitted for consideration as an equivalent priority to the other Target Watersheds.

Salt River-Van Buren (Taylorsville Lake) (05140102040)
Salt River-Van Buren (Taylorsville Lake) drains about 51 square miles in parts of Spencer, Anderson and Nelson counties, contains about 120 total river miles and has a completed TMDL for nutrients in the lake. Additional studies performed indicate that source areas upstream from the lake have impaired waters impacted by human-induced factors as indicated in the FY2002 305(b) data assessment. This outstanding recreational resource provides an excellent comparison to past and present changes and effective Best Management Practice (BMP) implementation. Important issues in the area of the lake include BMPs, population growth, nutrient load increases and changes in land-use practices in the watershed and in drainage areas in the headwaters region of the lake. About 50 percent of the land is forested, and about 25 percent is used for agricultural purposes. The Team feels that during the next decade, agencies and groups should be proactive in protecting this valuable resource. Preliminary contacts with individuals in the watershed indicate there is a desire for active public participation and development of a task force to address environmental issues. There is a high likelihood of success for projects developed in this watershed.

Prepared by: Tom Mesko, USGS
October 26, 2001