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Focus on Kentucky's River Basins
Originally, each of Kentucky's eight major river basins hosted its own, independently operating Watershed Watch organization. These basin-level Watershed Watch organizations helped to support regional interest in the sampling effort and engage volunteers with data findings in their respective river drainage areas (see map below).
In 2023, it was decided that the consolidation of the separate basin entities would allow for a more efficient, cohesive sampling program. Although Watershed Watch will be functioning as a single organization, the basins will have the ability to continue to convene steering committees, host meetings and events, coordinate special sampling projects, and direct dedicated funds to basin-level priorities. Please see below for information about what each of the basins is doing and how you can get more involved in your larger river watershed.
Four Rivers Basin
Four Rivers Basin
The Four Rivers Basin is located in western KY and northwestern TN. This region is identified by the four major rivers that flow through or adjacent to this region: the Cumberland, Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers. This region drains ~4,700 square miles across 17 Kentucky counties (Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, Simpson, Trigg, and Todd) and four Tennessee counties (Henry, Montgomery, Stewart, and Robertson) with more than 10,000 stream miles.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
Green/Tradewater River Basin
Green/Tradewater River Basin
The Green River Basin is the largest river basin in Kentucky with some of the most biodiverse waters in the country, including 42 species that do not occur anywhere else in the world. It has a wide-ranging landscape, covering over 11,000 square miles in 35 counties. Starting on a ridge in Lincoln County at 1,384 feet above sea level, water flows west from the Mississippian Plateau to the Western Coal Field region. A total of 385 miles of the Green River to its confluence with the Ohio River east of Henderson at an elevation of 342 feet.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
Salt River Basin
Salt River Basin
The Salt River Watershed is located in North Central Kentucky. The basin drains about 4,150 square miles of Kentucky, and it contains approximately 9,375 miles of streams. Its Northern and Western sides meet the Ohio River, and it is surrounded by the Kentucky River Basin on its Eastern side as well as the Green and Tradewater Rivers Basin on its Southern side. The river and its tributaries run through Anderson, Boyle, Breckenridge, Bullitt, Carroll, Casey, Hardin, Henry, Larue, Marion, Meade, Mercer, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble and Washington counties. In these counties, there are several large cities, including Louisville, Fort Knox, and Shelbyville. The region ranges from gently rolling to steep hills, and it also contains many wetlands, such as in Nelson County. In addition, many places in the watershed contain Karst areas, which are marked with sinkholes.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
Kentucky River Basin
Kentucky River Basin
The Kentucky River Basin encompasses nearly 7,000 square miles in 41 counties and contain 16,000 miles of stream. From a hill in Letcher County nearly 3,200 feet above sea level, the Kentucky River descends from the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field, Knobs and Bluegrass Regions to the Ohio River at 420 feet above sea level.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
Licking River Basin
Licking River Basin
Nearly 9,600 miles of streams flow through the Licking River Basin’s 3,700 square miles in 22 counties. From a hill in southern Magoffin County 1,600 feet above sea level, the Licking River runs northwest down to the Ohio River at 448 feet above sea level.
The map to the left highlights the Kentucky Division of Water's priority watershed areas in the Licking River basin.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
Upper Cumberland River Basin
Upper Cumberland River Basin
The Upper Cumberland River Basin includes a drainage area to the Cumberland River north of the Kentucky/Tennessee boundary in Monroe County.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
Big Sandy River Basin
Big Sandy River Basin
The Big Sandy River Basin includes the drainage areas for the Big Sandy, Little Sandy and Tygarts Rivers.
To learn more about Watershed Watch activities in this basin, click here.
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