Special Use Waterbodies in Kentucky

Special-use waters are waters listed in Kentucky Administrative Regulations that are worthy of additional protection. There are two basic categories of special-use waters: those that have higher “Designated Use” protections and those that have higher “Antidegradation” protections. Higher designated uses are “Cold Water Aquatic Habitat” (CAH) and “Outstanding State Resource Water” (OSRW). CAHmeans surface waters and associated substrate that will support indigenous aquatic life, or self-sustaining or reproducing trout populations, on a year-round basis (401 KAR 10:031, Section 4). OSRWmeans surface waters designated by the cabinet pursuant to 401 KAR 10:031, Section 8, and includes certain unique waters of the Commonwealth, including Kentucky Wild Rivers, Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers, and waters supporting federally recognized threatened or endangered species. A water can have both the “CAH” and “OSRW” designation. A water with the tag of “T/E” indicates an OSRW that supports federally threatened or endangered species. Higher antidegradation protection categories include “Outstanding National Resource Water” (ONRW) and “Exceptional Water” (EXC). ONRWs are waters that meet the requirements for an OSRW and demonstrate national ecological or recreational significance. EXCare certain waters whose quality exceeds that necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and recreation in and on the water. Waters placed in this category are reference reach waters (RR), Kentucky Wild Rivers, some OSRWs and waters with excellent fish or macroinvertebrate communities (401 KAR 10:030 Section 1). RRwaters are a representative subpopulation of the least impacted streams within a bioregion. These streams serve as chemical, physical and biological models from which to determine the degree of impairment (physical, chemical or biological) to similar stream systems in each representative bioregion. These are not necessarily pristine streams, but represent those least disturbed conditions that are attainable in each bioregion. Any water identified as “candidate” is a water identified for a higher designated use or antidegradation category but has not yet been promulgated. Download spatial layer on Box. --- "Exceptional waters" (EXCW) means certain waterbodies whose quality exceeds that necessary to support propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and recreation in and on the water. Waters placed in this category are reference reach waters, Kentucky Wild Rivers, some Outstanding State Resource Waters and waters with "excellent" fish or macroinvertebrate communities (401 KAR 5:030 Section 1). "Reference Reach Waters" (R-RCH) are a representative subpopulation of the least impacted streams within a bioregion. These streams serve as chemical, physical and biological models from which to determine the degree of impairment (physical, chemical or biological) to similar stream systems in each representative bioregion. These are not necessarily pristine streams, but represent those least disturbed conditions that are attainable in each bioregion.Categories also currently covered in this data set: Cold Water Aquatic Habitat (CAH) means surface waters and associated substrate that will support indigenous aquatic life, or self-sustaining or reproducing trout populations, on a year-round basis. (401 KAR 10:031, Section 4) Outstanding State Resource Water (OSRW) means surface waters designated by the cabinet pursuant to 401 KAR 10:031, Section 8, and includes certains unique waters of the Commonwealth. CAH, OSRW - Rivers and streams which fall under both of the above categories. Threatened/Endangered (T/E) - Outstanding state resource waters with federally threatened or endangered species. T/E, CAH - Rivers/streams which fall under both the Threatened/Endangered and Cold Water Aquatic Habitat categories.