The Central subbasin of the Kentucky River occupies all of Powell and Estill Counties, much of Wolfe and Lee Counties, and parts of Jackson, Owsley, Menifee, Montgomery, Clark, and Madison Counties.

The subbasin is largely in the Knobs physiographic region, characterized by hilly terrain, very rapid surface runoff, and very slow groundwater drainage. In level parts of the Knobs, both runoff and groundwater drainage are slow.

A few issues account for most of the problems documented for this subbasin in the Kentucky Division of Water’s most recent Report to Congress under the Clean Water Act. These include straight pipes and failing septic systems, pathogens and nutrients from agricultural sources, contamination from runoff in heavily settled areas, modification of streambeds or removal of vegetation, and siltation resulting from agriculture, construction, or other activities.

Watersheds in the Central subbasin ranged across all three categories of the Ranked Watershed List.

Learn more about the subbasin by going to EPA’s Upper Kentucky subbasin web site.