The Middle Fork Kentucky River subbasin occupies most of Leslie County and parts of Harlan, Perry, Breathitt, and Lee Counties.

The Middle Fork subbasin, like the rest of the Eastern Kentucky coal field, has mountainous terrain that causes rapid surface runoff of rainwater.

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, contamination from runoff in heavily settled areas, modification of streambeds or removal of vegetation, and siltation resulting from logging, mining, construction, or other activities.

All of the watersheds in the Middle Fork subbasin ranked high or medium in the Ranked Watershed List. This is an indication of the consistently high need for attention to waterways and watersheds in the subbasin.

Learn more about the subbasin by going to EPA’s Middle Fork subbasin web site.