By Andrew Berry
Kentucky Senate Bill 89 threatens to reduce water protections in Kentucky, putting our drinking supplies, fishing and recreation, and wildlife in jeopardy. Much progress has been made in the last 50 years to clean up Kentucky’s streams and reduce pollution in our drinking water sources. We ask Kentucky’s legislators to put the health of Kentucky’s water resources above short-term profits for polluters and dischargers.
Senate Bill 89 would reduce protection for groundwater and headwater streams, both critical stages within a healthy water cycle. Groundwater is a major source for municipal drinking water supplies that our families and industries all depend upon. Once polluted, groundwater is not easily cleaned and will remain polluted for decades to come, impacting future generations of Kentuckians. Kentucky is known for its limestone springs and caves that depend upon clean groundwater for their health and productivity.
Headwater streams are incredibly important in filtering and providing clean runoff downstream to our larger streams. Water quality, fishing, and wildlife will be negatively impacted if headwater streams are damaged, discharged into, or destroyed. Healthy headwater streams in the Knobs and Appalachia are critical for reducing impacts from the devastating floods we have seen in recent years. Sensitive species such as fish, mussels, and amphibians all depend on healthy conditions upstream. When headwater streams are impaired or outright disappear, their capacity to hold water, filter sediment, and recharge groundwater is diminished. Runoff and sediment end up downstream after floods, causing lasting impacts to communities, stream banks, and floodplains.
Take Action Now
We must all come together to oppose Senate Bill 89 and protect the future of Kentucky’s clean water. Call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 (open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday) and leave a message urging Kentucky House members to vote NO on SB 89. You can also use the Kentucky Resources Council action alert system to send an email to your state representative and House leadership here.
We have the power to protect clean water for nearly 2 million Kentuckians and thousands of miles of headwater streams. Let’s ensure that the decisions we make today support a healthier, cleaner future for Kentucky.
