Paddler's Summit - Frankfort, Ky.

On Friday November, 19 I participated in a one day Paddle Sports Development Conference at the offices of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. The purpose of the meeting was to have an initial discussion about ways to help promote and develop new paddling opportunities in Kentucky. This included the whitewater park that the Bardstown Boaters have been developing. After receiving our cost estimates in February of 2010 for the restoration of the rubble dam on the Beech Fork River, I was hoping to learn of some possible grant opportunities for the park.

This meeting brought together some of the most influential people in the Kentucky paddle sports community, together with those in the state government, to look at what potential projects are out there needing support, prioritize those projects for much needed support, and start working together state wide to advance our sport for the benefit of our state, our local communities, and our locally owned businesses.

The two projects that we spoke about the most were the Russell Fork River and the Beech Fork in Bardstown. Steve Ruth is leading an effort in getting more recognition for paddling opportunities at the already great, but overlooked, whitewater stream in Eastern Kentucky. He is alos working on developing a whitewater park on the lower section of the Russell Fork. The Bardstown Boaters spoke about the Beech Fork Whitewater park project and the work already done by Riverrestoration.org there. Briefly mentioned, was the proposed park in Bowling Green.

Some of those who were in a attendance included Kevin Nuss and Nick Hope with the Kentucky Sports Authority. They billed themselves as the ones who bring events to Kentucky. Elaine Wilson and Seth Wheat represented the Kentucky Office of Adventure Tourism. These might be the folks who could assist us with locating grant funds for the Bardstown project. From the department of Fish and Wildlife we spoke with Benjy Kinman and Mark Cramer, one interesting thing they are doing with federal money is building boat access ramps to lakes and streams. This may be an avenue to explore for the Bardstown project.

Those from the paddling community in attendance were Steve Ruth of Elkhorn City, Ky., Doug Davis of River City Canoe and Kayak, Brian Sandman,  Viking Canoe Club, Brent Austin, BWA, Smurf, owner of Sheltowee Trace, and Allison Depenbrock, with Canoe Kentucky.

I presented the Bardstown project to everyone and harped on the numbers. $371,000 to build our park. That is quite low which it is due to the access of materials at the rubble dam, the existing road access, land ownership by the City of Bardstown, and the infrastructure of Bardstown tourism industry, all which is currently in place. I think this helps immensely with getting the park built. We just need to modify the hazardous dam into a playful whitewater feature, that will then be primed for world class whitewater events and daily recreation oppertunities.

Overall my presentation was received very well by the group. Many were impressed that we had come this far in the process, we are the only ones who have some idea of the costs involved and again, they are relitivly low costs at that.

The next steps from all of this seem to be more meetings and greater coalition, something more substantial in numbers so we can say, here look, we are 5,000 strong and we want more outdoor paddling opportunities for Kentucky. Here are some great places to start.

A very special thanks goes out to Doug Davis who made this meeting happen. In his short time in Kentucky already, I feel that he has done much to help progress the paddling scene in the state and on a national level. The man is driven, just like many others who were seated at the table today. That is what I love most about the Kentucky paddling community.

Possible Grant for Beech Fork Project

Division of Water - Nonpoint Source

Funding through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act is provided to the Kentucky Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Control Program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Funds can be used to pay for 60 percent of the total cost for each project; a 40 percent nonfederal match is required.

The Kentucky NPS Pollution Control Program seeks projects to compete for funding. Grants are available for watershed-based plan development and implementation, protection of Special Use Waters with identified threats, as well as other nonpoint source pollution control projects to help mitigate or prevent runoff pollution. Priority consideration will be given to applications for watershed-based plan development and implementation in 303(d) listed streams and protection of threatened Special Use Waters.

Project proposal forms may be submitted at any time; however, deadlines apply to specific federal funding cycles. To be considered for 2011 funding, project proposal forms have to be submitted by Feb. 4, 2011.

2011 Grant Application and Funding Process

Read the Grant Guidance Document and Application instructions.

Contact a NPS staff member to discuss your potential project.
Submit Project Proposal Form by Feb. 4, 2011.

A NPS staff member will contact you to discuss your proposal.
Feb. 4 to Feb. 25, 2011 -- proposal review and selection.
Upon invitation, develop an application.

Submit application. Application must be postmarked by midnight April 22, 2011. If delivered by hand, application must be received by 4:30 p.m. ET April 22, 2011, at the Division of Water, NPS Section, 200 Fair Oaks Lane, Fourth Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601.

May 15 to July 15, 2011 -- project review and selection.

Oct. 1, 2011 -- expected receipt of grant from the EPA.

Contract written and executed.
Project begins.

Photos at the French Broad

Back in September the Bardstown Boaters paddled the French Broad and Pigeon Rivers. Some of the "elder" members had their photos taken while paddling their Cadillacs down Section IX of the French Broad. The pictures are really good, especially David's run. Don't miss it.

See them all here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moocowmama/sets/72157624262059404/

Ode to the Club Boater

Cherokee Park Restoration

Stream Restoration Project along the Middle Fork of Beargrass Creek in Cherokee Park. View more photos here.

Proposals to make rapids safer raise a raft of questions

There’s a boulder in Staircase Rapid on the South Fork of Idaho’s Payette River that can kill you.

If you spill from a raft upstream on the left side of the river, you might get channeled to the boulder’s submerged undercut face, where the water could suck you into a dangerous sieve. River guide Dean Fairburn drowned here in 2007. Some 15 to 20 rafts wrap here every season, according to commercial outfitter Chad Long, who co-manages Cascade Raft and Kayak with his extended family.

But with the river low this fall because of work on an upstream dam, Chad’s father, Tom Long, saw an opportunity. Could the boulder be moved to make the rapid safer? It’s not exactly natural, anyway: The Army Corps of Engineers reconstructed the run after a mudslide here blocked the river in 2001. So Tom got a stream-alteration permit from the state — and kicked off a heated discussion within the whitewater community.

Meanwhile, this past July, 23-year-old river guide Kimberly Appelson became the fourth person since 2000 to drown in a more notorious, natural sieve in Frog Rock Rapids on Colorado’s Arkansas River. This fall, officials there also considered tweaking the rapid to make it safer — rousing yet more debate.

Read more …

Linville Falls

Russell Fork

The Russell Fork River is a free-flowing stream with 16 miles of great whitewater between Haysi, Va., and Elkhorn City, Ky. Every year in October the Russell Fork has guaranteed water releases on the the weekends. Since I started paddling I have never missed a year of boating at the Breaks Interstate Park on this beautiful Kentucky/Virginia river.

Hollis and Jennifer came along for the ride and to see the park while Jay Thomas and Myself met at Garden Hole for a Saturday run of the upper section. It was unusually warm on this day, an added bonus and great paddling weather.

The Russell Fork is a beautiful river wether your paddling it, viewing from the high above the gorge, or swimming it, out of your boat through 20 Stitches while hitting every hole through the rapid.

This year, since I had the family in tow, we stayed at the lodge, which was a decent room with a spectacular view. I'll certainly be back next year, if not again this October.

Environmental Problems Dirty Coxs Creek

Government report gives poor grades to stream’s water quality and habitats

By Frank Johnson | The Kentucky Standard

Coxs Creek

A report card released Friday from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection shows Nelson County has some homework to do.

The Division of Water spent the last year evaluating the health of the Cox Creek watershed in northern Nelson County. The area’s final grade: C-.

The stream and its tributaries received poor marks in many of the eight categories the study measured, particularly due to high levels of E. Coli in the water, a decreasing numbers of fish and bugs, and the substantial loss of habitat and natural cover.

The results of the study surprised farmer Oliver Rodgers, who said he has invested heavily in measures to help limit the environmental impact of his farming operations.

 “We are spending a lot of money on our end to protect the streams and put the nutrients where they need to be,” Rodgers said. “In a lot of respects, I think we are doing more than we have in the past.”

The area has historically been home to some of the county’s largest farms and with the planned expansion of U.S. 31E to a four-lane highway, it’s also a region set to experience a lot of growth.

 “There is a delicate balance between promoting economic development and protecting our water resources,” said Katie McKone, a state environmental biologist who helped compile the report. “It’s hard to put a price tag on clean water, but it’s a goal we are compelled to pursue.”

Tommy Hart, Nelson County Kentucky Farm Bureau Board of Directors president, said that is a goal shared by many farmers in the area who are engaged in an ongoing improvement in farming practices.

“Farmers are, for the most part, pretty good stewards of the land,” Hart said.

For his part, Rodgers has invested about $40,000 to build a new feed facility for his cattle that will help prevent any animal waste from entering Cox Creek.

On a different farm, Rodgers has received help from the Nelson County Soil Conservation office in erecting a fenced barrier around the stream to allow it to return to a more natural state.

 “That’s how serious I am about the streams,” Rodgers said.

Despite these efforts, the report shows progress in restoring water quality in the Cox Creek watershed is still a long way downstream.

Twelve points of the creek and its branches — six of which are in Nelson County — were monitored for eight signs of water quality and biological health. Grades were given for each and then an average score compiled from the results.

In one of these areas, the level of E. Coli in the water, a majority of the sites received an F.

 “From May to November 2009, eight of the 11 sites had E. Coli concentrations above the safe standard for swimming 80 to 100 percent of the time,” the report said. “These levels may cause gastrointestinal illness if the water is swallowed or infection if contact is made with an open sore or wound.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, E. Coli is a bacteria that lives in the stomachs of ruminants such as cattle and causes diseases in humans when feces from such animals is ingested.

The report also noted substantial losses of what is called the “riparian zone.” The riparian zone is the land adjacent to a stream that has distinct soil types and plant communities, which aid in absorbing water and shading the stream.

For an area to receive an A, it must be at least 18 yards wide on each side of the stream. In the eight sites were the riparian zone was studied, the Cox Creek watershed received two Fs, four Ds and two Cs.

The report said the loss of the habitat provided by a large riparian zone is harmful to the ecological cycle of streams. It results in less bacteria for insects to eat, which in turn means less insects for fish to munch on.

However, McKone said these two problems are just some of the many factors that affect water quality.

“The problem is that there is never really any one issue,” McKone said. “It’s hard to say if you fix this one thing, it’ll get better. The goal of the report is to show the overarching issues that affect water quality.”

The information is pulled from a year-long collection of data conducted in 2009 about the creek and the tributaries that feed into it in northern Nelson County and nearby Spencer and Bullitt counties. The study was triggered by an initial evaluation that showed Cox Creek did not meet the standards for activities such as swimming and fishing required by the Clean Water Act.

McKone said the “Health Report” is part of a pilot program developed by the Kentucky Division of Water to better communicate its findings to the public and increase awareness of the problems in Kentucky’s waterways. The Cox Creek Health Report is the first to be publicly released.

The report does not come with any regulatory requirements or force government, business or individuals to make specific changes.

For more information Kentucky’s rivers, streams and creeks, visit the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Division of Water at water.ky.gov.

Russell Fork Schedule for this October

The annual Russell Fork Rendezvous has been moved to the first release weekend, October 2-3. The 2nd Russell Fork Free for All will coincide with Rendezvous on the 2nd. Here's a look at the four weekends:

10/2-3 | 800cfs | Russell Fork Rendezvous, Russell Fork Free for All

10/9-10 | 800cfs | Baddlun, Paddler's Appreciation

10/16-17 | 800cfs | Open

10/23-24 | 1100cfs |Lord of the Fork Race

The Baddlun is an extreme triathlon that includes a 14 mile bike course, 12 mile whitewater (Class IV-V) and 2.5 mile run. Not for the squeamish!

The Lord of the Fork is our annual extreme Class V downriver race in the gorge. Race history here.

Stay tuned for further information on all these events at http://www.russellfork.info