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Upper North Fork of the
Kentucky River Region Watershed

 
This map illustrates the course of the Upper North Fork of the Kentucky River.
 

 

The Upper North Fork Kentucky River watershed is located in southeastern Kentucky and includes the counties of Breathitt, Knott, Letcher and Perry. Major tributaries of this region include Leatherwood Creek, Line Fork, Rockhouse Creek, Carr Fork, Lotts Creek and Troublesome Creek.

The upper North Fork watershed is in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field physiographic region, characterized by mountainous terrain, rapid surface runoff, and moderate rates of groundwater drainage. The watershed is underlain by coals, sandstones and shales and is generally conducive to productive wells, although water quality may be low for wells that draw from coal layers.

The following KRWW sites are located in or near the watershed:

  • K017, North Fork at Whitesburg, intersection of KY931 and KY15
  • K048, North Fork at Martha Layne Collins Bridge (KY541)
  • K062, North Fork at Mayking at Old Regular Baptist Church
  • K063, Pine Creek at Mayking Baptist Church
  • K064, Creekam Creek, mouth of Creekam Creek and Pert Fork
  • K082, North Fork at Perry County Park
  • K083, Lotts Creek at KY550 Bridge
  • K090, Quicksand Creek, KY15 at junction with KY30
  • K091, Line Fork at mouth of Saltlick Branch
  • K092, Line Fork at mouth of Turkey Creek
  • K093, Turkey Creek near Banks
  • K100, Rockhouse Creek below Doty Creek
  • K101, Rockhouse Creek above Doty Creek
  • K102, Doty Creek at mouth
  • K103, Rockhouse Creek below Blair Branch
  • K104, Rockhouse Creek above Blair Branch
  • K105, Blair Branch at mouth
  • K106, Blair Branch at mouth of Tooter Branch
  • K107, Rockhouse Creek below Crases Branch
  • K108, Rockhouse Creek above Crases Branch
  • K109, Rockhouse Creek at mouth of Crases Branch
  • K110, Rockhouse Creek below Ison
  • K111, Rockhouse Creek above Ison
  • K112, North Fork below Colley Creek
  • K113, North Fork above Colley Creek
  • K114, Colley Creek at mouth
  • K115, Allen Branch at mouth
  • K116, Blair Branch above Tooter Branch
  • K117, Blair Branch below Ison Branch
  • K118, Left Fork of Doty Creek
  • K119, Right Fork of Doty Creek
  • K135, Left Fork of Maces Creek
  • K145, Troublesome Creek

Major Water Quality Issues

The North Fork of the Kentucky River fails to support its swimming use designation due to pathogen contamination and fails to support aquatic life due to siltation impairments. Suspected pathogen sources include onsite wastewater systems (septic systems and straight pipes) and municipal point sources. Siltation is believed to be caused by a variety of activities, including urban runoff/storm sewers, habitat modification, agriculture, construction and silviculture.

Bacteriological problems in the North Fork can be linked to four specific causes, all linked to improper disposal of sewage.  Historically, a significant source of pathogen impairment in the streams of the North Fork subbasin has been the improper operation of many wastewater treatment plants.  In addition, small privately owned package plants also cause significant pathogen impairment problems when not operated properly. Package plants are small wastewater treatment facilities. Soils and terrain in the North Fork subbasin are often inadequate to support traditional septic systems. The presence of numerous straight pipes is also a source of impairment of streams by pathogens. A straight pipe is a sewer line from a house or building that discharges raw sewage directly into a receiving stream or river.  The final cause for bacteriological impairment is the failure of septic systems due to improper design and/or lack of maintenance.  In many cases, such systems can have as significant impact on nearby streams as ineffective package plants or straight pipes.

Local Watershed Activities

An Upper Kentucky River Basin watershed coordinator was hired by the Letcher County Water and Sewer District in June of 2004 using EPA 319 funds. In addition to education and outreach efforts, this new coordinator will be facilitating the installation of onsite wastewater treatment systems along Rockhouse Creek in order to reduce fecal contamination of the watershed. A 2004 Kentucky River Authority watershed grant was awarded to the Letcher County Water and Sewer District to purchase an Enviroscape watershed model and water quality monitoring equipment for volunteers.

Through a grant from Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute is conducting water quality monitoring at several sites within this watershed. For further details, refer to the website for The PRIDE Assessment Project: An Evaluation of Water Quality and Programs.

 

Photos of the Upper North Fork Watershed
     
 
     
 

 

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This website possible with assistance from the Kentucky River Authority.