See the 2005-06 Appalachian Heritage Alliance Grant Final Report

Focus Watershed: Red River of the Kentucky River

The Red River is Kentucky 's only Federally-designated Wild and Scenic River and has been found to have water quality satisfying its designated uses by the Kentucky Division of Water. This project aims to engage Wolfe County high school students in hands-on education about the Red River in order to broaden their understanding of the processes and diversity of their local waterway. It is hoped that this educational experience will inspire the students to become better stewards of the river and influence the broader local populace. Students will first receive a broad overview of the Red River watershed in the classroom, including information about its geology, historical events, source water protection and agricultural impacts. Following this overview, students will be taken on two separate field trips to the river. The first trip will focus on water chemistry, habitat assessment and macroinvertebrates. The second trip will focus on the life history of the river's native mussels and fish and their ecological significance. In order to reinforce and publicize these educational experiences, students will be encouraged to write about them for school postings, the local newspaper, and/or other Kentucky-based publications.