Watershed watchers press for cleaner Floyds Fork to protect parks investment. As more people flock to Floyds Fork to paddle canoes and kayaks, a new study recommends more frequent sampling for bacteria, along with a continued push for improving water quality there. The state-sanctioned volunteer group Salt River Watershed Watch, which did the study, recommends stepped-up monitoring from May through October at six canoe launch areas along Floyds Fork, after finding elevated bacteria readings at two sites during weekly monitoring last August. The watershed watch focused on the canoe and kayak launches because they are becoming more popular with development of the Parklands of Floyds Fork, a new string of parks being established by the private, nonprofit group 21st Century Parks. Noting that $120 million in private and public money was raised to buy land and develop the parks, watershed watch organizer Russ Barnett said, Those capital investments are only as good as the quality of that stream. Without improved water quality, we dont think these parks can be very successful, said Barnett, who also is director of the Kentucky Institute for the Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of Louisville. He suggested that 21st Century Parks help cover the costs of the additional monitoring as a way to help make sure its visitors stay safe. James Bruggers Courier-Journal
Posted on: Tue, 06 May 2014 11:39:53 +0000