DOW Primary Ambient Monitoring Stations

Primary ambient monitoring stations have ongoing water quality monitoring that oftentime extend for decades, making these stations ideal for studying water quality trends over time. The contributing basins are necessary to determine yields and understand land cover and uses that impact water quality. Contributing basins were derived using the StreamStats (USGS, 2017) web application . These data also include nutrient (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) loads and yields data for the basins included in the studies, Nutrient Loads and Yields in Kentucky: 2005-2017, and the Update to the 2019 Nutrient Loads and Yields in Kentucky Study, with a study period of 2005-2019.

The Kentucky SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed Attributes) model estimates annual nitrogen and phosphorus loads (concentrations) for stream reaches throughout the state based on data from 40 monitored stations in Kentucky and Tennessee. Approximately 300 land use, municipal, and natural resource variables were evaluated in order to identify the significant contributing factors of nitrogen and phosphorus to our streams. The SPARROW model is a non-linear model that estimates the magnitude and significance of source and delivery variables for the downstream end of each stream segment (reach) based on measured data at monitored sites. The model then sums the nutrient load within each reach with those from the upstream reaches. The results presented here are from an adjusted model - this means that measured data for monitored reaches were included in the final model and used to adjust the model at each monitored reach and thereby improve the accuracy of the estimated nutrient concentrations. Consequently, the model is most accurate immediately downstream of a monitored reach. Conversely, the largest accumulated error is in reaches immediately upstream of a monitored reach. Data are reported with 90% lower and upper confidence bounds. For nitrogen, the sources were identified as agricultural land use (pasture plus cultivated land areas - NLCD 1992), atmospheric deposition of ammonium and nitrate (NADP), and wastewater (Hoos, 2007). Delivery of the atmospheric deposition is controlled by how water moves through the soil (soil permeability - STATSGO). In addition, there is depletion of stream nitrogen in the state's reservoirs (as estimated by the model). This nitrogen model has a yield R2 (accounting for the size of each drainage area) of 0.89. For phosphorus, the sources were identified as pasture (NLCD), soil phosphorus abundance (Karathanasis, 2006), and wastewater (Hoos, 2007). Delivery of phosphorus from pasture lands is related to a function of infiltration excess overland flow (Wolock, 2003). This phosphorus model has a yield R2 of 0.65. Questions? tnwillia@usgs.gov Download Link: https://ky.box.com/v/kymartian-nitrogen-phosporus

Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires states to assess the condition of the Waters of the US. The Kentucky Division of Water, in cooperation with other agencies, collects biological and water quality data to assess the condition of the resource and reports this to Congress every two years in the Integrated Report to Congress. (https://www.water.ky.gov/sw/swmonitor/305b/) These data represent the assessment results for surface waters of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Box Download: https://ky.box.com/v/energy-environment/file/850633110417

Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires states to assess the condition of the Waters of the US. The Kentucky Division of Water, in cooperation with other agencies, collects biological and water quality data to assess the condition of the resource and reports this to Congress every two years in the Integrated Report to Congress. (https://www.water.ky.gov/sw/swmonitor/305b/) These data represent the assessment results for surface waters of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Box Download: https://ky.box.com/v/energy-environment/file/850633894848

Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires states to assess the condition of the Waters of the US. The Kentucky Division of Water, in cooperation with other agencies, collect biological and water quality data to assess the condition of the resource and reports this to Congress every two years in the Water Quality Report to Congress (305(b)). These data represent the assessment results for drinking water for surface waters of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Box Download: https://ky.box.com/v/energy-environment/file/850634483096

Division of Water (DOW) Priority Watersheds receive greater consideration for funding and technical support in state agency programs, including USEPA 319 (Nonpoint Source) Grant Program Funding, state revolving funds for water and wastewater infrastructure, and state agricultural cost-share programs. DOW Priority Watersheds are distributed throughout the state, consisting of both 319 Program Basin Priorities, and Nutrient Priorities. Each DOW Priority area is scaled to a HUC-12 watershed. These focused investment areas consisting of both 319 Program Basin Priorities, and Nutrient Priority Areas.  Basin Priorities reflect areas with a demonstrated need for investment (impaired waters, environmental justice considerations, TMDLs, nutrient priorities, sourcewater, or local high-quality waterways), and sufficient local capacity (watershed plans) to improve water quality.  Nutrient Priorities reflect areas of high aquatic nutrient concentrations (yields), locations of repeat confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), and sensitive drinking water sources.  Combined, these two data sets represent a data-driven prioritization effort to address specific local water quality needs. Downlaod spatial layer on Box.