This Web page describes the rationale behind the Upper Cumberland River Basin Team's selection of priority watersheds in the unit's first Watershed Management Framework cycle.
During the third year of the Kentucky Watershed Framework five-year cycle, the Upper Cumberland River Basin Team ranked the 94 “HUC 11” watersheds as either high, medium or low based on available data. These were ranked using a diverse set of empirical and surrogate data to evaluate the condition of the basin unit, and these data were run through a formula during calendar year 2002.
After ranking all watersheds, the “high” watersheds were further evaluated for focused planning, restoration and protection efforts. From these high ranking watersheds, the Basin Team selected three “priority watersheds” that will be targeted. The factors used in this second step of prioritization addressed feasibility: local willingness to address issues, probability of securing funds to address issues and technical ability to address issues. The Team explored local interest primarily through personal contacts and knowledge of the watershed. The focus was generally on local government's involvement in planning as well as interest level of various state and federal agencies.
In the fall of 2002, the Upper Cumberland River Basin Team made an official selection of three priority watersheds. These are Clover Fork of the Cumberland, Laurel River and Sinking Creek. Three was considered to be a reasonable number of watersheds due to time and resource limitations.
For the priority watersheds, the Basin Team accepts the Framework goal of establishing a locally-directed stakeholder group (task force or council), developing a work plan for improving the conditions in the watershed, and implementing that plan. The basin coordinator is expected to guide these activities, providing assistance for success. The estimated completion date for work plan development is August 2003. Each of the three watersheds and the rationale for Team decisions is described below. The Team will provide recommendations for each of the 94 11-digit HUC watersheds in the basin unit by Fall 2003.
First Priority Watersheds
Clover Fork of the Cumberland River (05130101055)
The Clover Fork arises in eastern Harlan County near the Virginia border and flows generally southwestward. The general topography of this watershed is steep with high ridges and low hollows. The watershed is sandwiched between Big Black Mountain on the north and Little Black Mountain on the south. The terrain is typical of that of the Cumberland Mountain region of the Cumberland Plateau, well-dissected and well-drained by deeply entrenched streams. Ridges are generally narrow and winding. Natural flat land is mainly restricted to floodplains of the main stem and major tributaries. Low-order streams are generally V-shaped and have no flood plains. Mountains rise to well over 3000 feet throughout the watershed. The Clover Fork is one of three forks that come together near the city of Harlan to create the Cumberland River.
About 90 percent of the watershed is forested; however, reclaimed land is also a common land cover. Level land that is not flood prone is generally located in the valleys and is intensively utilized for residential use.
The data-driven ranking process for the Upper Cumberland River basin indicated the watershed as an overall high priority because of a very high need for restoration. This is due to the 2000 water quality assessment that indicates the entire stretch of the main stem of the Clover Fork (34.5 miles) and the tributaries of Bailey Creek (2.5 miles) and Yocum Creek (6.5 miles) do not support primary contact recreation. Despite this impact, as well as decades of strip mining, aquatic life is still in fair shape.
The overwhelming cause of impairment in this watershed is pathogens. The source of pathogens is untreated sewage from straight pipes, failing septic tanks and poorly maintained wastewater plants. Over the past decade, increased enforcement and the success of the PRIDE program have gradually decreased the amount of untreated sewage entering streams in the watershed. However, there still remains the issue of a dependable wastewater facility to serve the most concentrated areas in and around the city of Evarts. In addition, some isolated communities such as Closplint remain problematic due to dense housing. Without a responsible operational entity it will be difficult to provide wastewater treatment service to these types of areas. As a result, the major thrust of the watershed planning will be identifying a responsible management entity for wastewater treatment in these isolated areas. The extension of sewer infrastructure will also be a key component of the watershed plan. The strong efforts of local leaders to solve these issues made this watershed a favorable selection.
Sinking Creek (05130102090)
Sinking Creek, located in Laurel County, arises near the intersection of Highway 80 and Interstate 75 at London. The stream flows generally westward, through the Cumberland Plateau, toward its confluence with the Rockcastle River. The general topography of the Cumberland Plateau is steep with high ridges and low hollows. Elevations vary only a couple hundred feet from valley to ridge top. The terrain is well-dissected and well-drained by deeply entrenched streams. Ridges are generally narrow and winding. Natural flat land is mainly restricted to flood plains of the main stem and major tributaries. Low-order streams are generally V-shaped and have no floodplains. The lower portion of the watershed lies in the Pottsville Escarpment region of the Cumberland Plateau. The escarpment region is a transitional zone between the Cumberland Plateau and the Mississippian Plateau. Resistant sandstone and conglomerate have weathered to create sheer cliffs, steep-walled gorges, rock shelters, waterfalls, natural bridges and arches.
Land use in the watershed varies greatly with forest land accounting for about 50 percent of the watershed. However, most of this forest is located in the lower portion of the watershed where the Daniel Boone National Forest owns about one-third of the land in the watershed. The forest is diverse with stands of evergreen, deciduous and mixed forest. Also there are a few areas that stand as reclaimed surface mine land. In the upper portion of the watershed, agriculture and residential areas dominate and account for about a third of the watershed. Both are generally limited to the ridgetops as the valleys are too narrow. Around the watershed perimeter at Interstate 75 and along Highway 80, the land is used for industrial and commercial purposes.
During the 2000 water quality assessment, the main stem of Sinking Creek was assessed and judged fully supporting for aquatic life. The tributaries of Powder Mill Creek and Little White Oak Creek were also assessed and judged fully supporting for aquatic life. However, Mitchell Creek and White Oak Creek were assessed and found to be not supporting for aquatic life. In Mitchell Creek, the cause and source of the impairment is unknown. For White Oak Creek, the suspected causes of the impairment are siltation, suspended solids and turbidity. The suspected sources are agriculture and urban runoff.
The entire stretch of the main stem of Sinking Creek is Outstanding Resource Water due to the presence of the federally endangered Cumberland bean mussel (Villosa trabalis).
The data-driven ranking process for the Upper Cumberland River basin indicated the watershed as an overall medium priority. However, due to the ecological importance of the watershed, it was selected as a priority. The interest of multiple agencies and organizations, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy, make this a favorable partnership opportunity for the Division of Water and its Framework partners.
Laurel River (05130101450)
The Laurel River is a major tributary to the Cumberland River. The stream flows generally southwest through the Cumberland Plateau. The general topography of the Cumberland Plateau is steep with high ridges and low hollows. The terrain is more rolling or hilly than mountainous with elevations rarely exceeding 1500 feet.
The terrain is well-dissected and well-drained by deeply entrenched streams. Ridges are generally narrow and winding. Natural flat land is mainly restricted to floodplains of the main stem and major tributaries. Low-order streams are generally V-shaped and have no floodplains. The lower portion of the watershed around Laurel Lake lies in the Pottsville Escarpment region of the Cumberland Plateau. The escarpment region is a transitional zone between the Cumberland Plateau and the Mississippian Plateau. Resistant sandstone and conglomerate have weathered to create sheer cliffs, steep-walled gorges, rock shelters, waterfalls, natural bridges and arches.
Dorthae Lake and Corbin City Reservoir are two small impoundments used for drinking water supplies. The entire watershed above the Corbin City Dam is part of the source water protection areas for Corbin Utilities and Laurel County Water District #2.
The upper watershed along the main stem is comprised of deciduous forest in the more rugged terrain with agriculture more dominant in the valleys. There are numerous beef cattle feeding operations along the Laurel River. Overall agricultural land accounts for about 40 percent of the watershed. Robinson Creek is also a mix of forest and agriculture with the addition of several areas standing as reclaimed surface mine land. The lower stretches of these streams drain the growing residential and industrial area of North Corbin. The upper Little Laurel River is mostly agricultural, including several beef cattle feeding operations. There is also some deciduous forest in this area. After it crosses Highway 80, the land use shifts to residential and urban areas associated with the city of London. Just downstream of London the stream zigzags between the Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 25 corridors. This area is rapidly changing to industrial and residential land use. Residential and urban areas account for about 20 percent of the overall watershed. There are several areas that remain as wetlands along the river bottom. Shortly after the three streams come together they flow into Laurel River Lake. The Daniel Boone National Forest surrounds the lake protecting the shoreline; however, residential developments are increasingly common on the edge of the forest. The short segment of stream below the dam is uninhabited and generally difficult to access.
During the 2000 water quality assessment, the main stem of the Laurel River was assessed in four segments for a total 19.9 miles. Two segments in the lower portion of the river were assessed for macroinvertebrates and were judged not supporting for aquatic life due to the presence of impoundments. A segment between Lick Creek and Blackwater Creek was also judged not supporting for aquatic life. A 4.9-mile segment downstream of Lick Creek was judged fully supporting for aquatic life.
The Little Laurel River was assessed from the mouth to a point 14.6 miles upstream and was judged not supporting for aquatic life. An aquatic and riparian habitat survey yielded a score in the not supporting range due to poor bank stability, inadequate riparian vegetation and sedimentation. A segment from mile 8.3 up to the headwaters was also judged not supporting for primary contact recreation due to elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria. The Whitley Branch tributary was assessed and was judged partially supporting for aquatic life and not supporting for primary contact recreation. An unnamed tributary near Highway 192 was also assessed and was judged not supporting for aquatic life.
The data-driven ranking process for the Upper Cumberland River basin indicated the watershed as an overall very high priority because of a need for restoration and because of potential impacts. Restoration needs are due to observed impacts that indicate 33.5 miles of stream not supporting all of their designated uses. Nonpoint source pollutants impact almost two-thirds of these stream miles. Potential impacts include a high number of permitted discharges and associated violations, a high score for potential contamination sources, a high unsewered population and a high increase in population growth. These observed and potential impacts are particularly a factor considering the large population that depends on the watershed as a drinking water source. In the spring of 2002, the watershed was selected by the Basin Team as the recipient of a Kentucky Waterways Alliance mini-grant to help initiate a local watershed council. The watershed is also mentioned as a future priority area for The Nature Conservancy. The Basin Team believes these factors will make for a favorable partnership of local and state agencies.
