Reports
This report summarizes a collaborative project funded the University of Kentucky's Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES). The intent of the project was to establish rural laboratories to alleviate logistical challenges and to explore a new lower-cost approach for E. coli analysis of water samples (Coliglow). These continue WWKY's efforts to expand the tools needed to help identify and address sewage contamination. WWKY's major partners on this project were UK's Water Resources Research Institute, Eastern Kentucky University, and UK's Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.
This report evaluated options for testing various nutrient parameters in the field, as opposed to collecting water samples for laboratory analyses. WWKY was interested in finding a lower-cost method to determine nutrient concentrations in streams using one of these approaches. Following recommendations from this report, WWKY began conducting a pilot study using three of the tested kits to evaluate ammonia, nitrate and phosphate in streams throughout Kentucky. The pilot findings will help determine if and how WWKY will offer a field sampling option for nutrients to the volunteer samplers.
Using community and regional partnerships, Watershed Watch participants have been able to achieve a wide variety of successes in promoting and improving water quality throughout the state. This report summarizes successes from each of Kentucky's major river basins. We will also be featuring more current initiatives and projects on our Action page. Click here to learn more about ways that Watershed Watch samplers are helping to make a difference in their communities.
Various researchers and professionals have referenced Watershed Watch activities and sampling data to support their work. This listing provides some examples of documents utilizing Watershed Watch information.