The South Fork Kentucky River subbasin occupies most of Clay and Owsley Counties and parts of Leslie, Bell, Knox, Jackson, and Lee Counties.

The South Fork subbasin, like the rest of the Eastern Kentucky coal field, has mountainous terrain that causes rapid surface runoff of rainwater. The northern edge of the subbasin is in the plateau area of the coal field, with more rolling terrain and somewhat less rapid surface runoff.

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 South 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 South Fork subbasin web site.