850cfs
Jay, Tim and I ran the elkhorn all in kayaks this fine Saturday. This was Tim's first time out in a whitewater kayak and he seemed to do real well. Jay got a combat roll at the last rapid, his very first combat roll. I guess Jay is ready for anything now! Justin and Toby had to bow out this day due to un-whitewater related circumstances.
After the paddle we all met in Bardstown for our first annual Bardstown Boaters Meeting. We had some very good chili, and discussed all the year's upcoming events. We had about 8 or 9 members present. The highlight from the discussions was talk about a park at te Beech Fork and an idea for the Bourbon Challenge.
The purpose of the meeting was because we expected January to be so light on paddling. But now with January ending I have been on the water 4 times and getting to paddle this day, the afternoon of the meeting was an extra bonus.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Elkhorn Paddle II Saturday
750cfs
Toby, Tim and I ran the Elkhorn on Saturday. The weather was 48 degrees and partly sunny. Tim ran his Rec Boat and I had my first run in my Rival OC-1. I loved the ride in that canoe. I look forward to using for an overnighter. I do need a longer paddle though. And maybe a better front airbag. It was good to be out on the Elkhorn twice this week, much less being on the water 3 times in January. The rain is still coming though and the weather still quite seasonably warm. May be able to get a paddle in the day after the yearly meeting.
Toby, Tim and I ran the Elkhorn on Saturday. The weather was 48 degrees and partly sunny. Tim ran his Rec Boat and I had my first run in my Rival OC-1. I loved the ride in that canoe. I look forward to using for an overnighter. I do need a longer paddle though. And maybe a better front airbag. It was good to be out on the Elkhorn twice this week, much less being on the water 3 times in January. The rain is still coming though and the weather still quite seasonably warm. May be able to get a paddle in the day after the yearly meeting.
Friday, January 20, 2006
City, County Leaders Talk Water
Friday, January 20, 2006 7:57 AM EST
BOB WHITE The Kentucky Standard
City and county leaders agreed to research two items Tuesday that could result in improved service and increased supply of Bardstown water.
Raw water is currently drawn from Sympson Lake and Beech Fork then treated at the city’s water treatment plant along Boston Road.
The existing water plant and sources of raw water are expected to adequately serve city water customers through 2040, but city and county leaders are looking ahead to serve the public’s need for water beyond that projected date.
“I think that’s what we’re paid to do,” Bardstown Mayor Dixie Hibbs said. “We have to admit we’re not comfortable with 2040.”
During a recent Nelson County Fiscal Court meeting Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts said he believed county growth was ahead of the 2040 projection.
Alternative raw water sources mentioned during the joint meeting included: the construction of a reservoir on Beech Fork, Tewell Creek, or Cedar Creek; the addition of a second reservoir on land adjacent to Sympson Lake; making use of Taylorsville Lake water; tapping into Louisville Water Company lines; and raising of the Beech Fork rock dam to increase the pool where water is currently drawn from the river.
Those alternatives are being considered as long-term water sources.
Of more immediate importance than raw water sources is the need for increased storage capacity for treated water at the plant.
Wayne Kendall, Bardstown Water Superintendent, said improvements were needed at the plant to ensure quality drinking water.
High usage during summer months force a quick treatment of water and could cause water quality to suffer as it did last summer.
“It was being used as fast as we could produce it,” Kendall said.
Kendall said treated water needs to be contained in clear wells prior to being distributed to customers.
High summer usage reduced the amount of time available for water to be held in the clear wells.
“You don’t want your water moving that quick,” Kendall said.
Not allowing treated water enough time in the clear wells reduces the quality of Bardstown water.
Kendall said the addition of a one or two million gallon clear well would allow treated water more time before distribution and improve water quality during high usage months.
The addition of a large clear well at the plant and a water line, would allow the treatment and distribution of up to 8 million gallons of quality water per day, according to Kendall.
The plant currently treats and distributes about 6 million gallons per day, but nearly 7 million gallons have been treated and distributed during times of high demand.
When distribution neared 7 million gallons per day last summer, customers were asked to conserve water and limit usage.
Hibbs said the city would begin seeking estimates for a new clear well and Watts said the county would research possible grant funding for the project.
Hibbs said city funds for the improvement were currently unavailable.
The cheapest way to increase raw water holding capacity would be to raise an existing rock dam on Beech Fork by a few feet to increase the volume of pooled water, according to Hibbs.
The old rock dam can be seen from the U.S. 31E bridge spanning Beech Fork.
Some officials voiced preferences of damming other portions of Beech Fork to provide a recreational lake and others prefer not to dam the river at all.
“I’m 100 percent against raising the rock dam or building a lake on Beech Fork,” said District 4 Magistrate Tim Hutchins.
Hutchins believes the city would best serve water customers by adding a new clear well then seeking more service from Louisville Water Company.
Louisville Water Company spokesperson Barbara Crow said the company was interested in extending Louisville water to Bardstown.
Water supply and capacity would not be an issue if Louisville Water Company was to serve Bardstown, Crow said.
“We certainly have the transmission and capacity to get water to Bardstown,” Crow added.
North Nelson Water District and Lebanon Junction’s water department, both of which are bulk customers of Bardstown water, have attached their systems to Louisville Water Company lines in recent years.
Hibbs told officials North Nelson Water District would need more Louisville water in the future if growth in its district continued.
Hutchins noted North Nelson Water District currently received 45 percent of its water from Louisville.
Watts said North Nelson Water District had been pulling more from Louisville to relieve the strain on Bardstown.
Hibbs expects Lebanon Junction to eventually rely solely on Louisville Water.
Lebanon Junction Mayor George Halk said the city could not disconnect from the Bardstown system until a 40-year purchase contract with Bardstown was fulfilled. The contract was signed in the early 1970s.
If all of Bardstown’s current customers were turned over to Louisville Water Company, Hibbs said the city would turn its back on a $40-$50 million investment at its current plant.
The city recently spent $5 million at the water treatment plant and a new clear well could cost between $1-2 million.
In addition to turning away from a large investment, a century old tradition of providing water to residents would end if Louisville Water assumed all of Bardstown water’s customers.
Bardstown has provided water since 1904, according to Hibbs.
Hibbs felt comfortable in Beech Fork’s ability to supply a substantial supply of raw water to Bardstown customers.
Bob White can be reached at 348-9003 Ext. 116 or by e-mail at bwhite@kystandard.com.
BOB WHITE The Kentucky Standard
City and county leaders agreed to research two items Tuesday that could result in improved service and increased supply of Bardstown water.
Raw water is currently drawn from Sympson Lake and Beech Fork then treated at the city’s water treatment plant along Boston Road.
The existing water plant and sources of raw water are expected to adequately serve city water customers through 2040, but city and county leaders are looking ahead to serve the public’s need for water beyond that projected date.
“I think that’s what we’re paid to do,” Bardstown Mayor Dixie Hibbs said. “We have to admit we’re not comfortable with 2040.”
During a recent Nelson County Fiscal Court meeting Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts said he believed county growth was ahead of the 2040 projection.
Alternative raw water sources mentioned during the joint meeting included: the construction of a reservoir on Beech Fork, Tewell Creek, or Cedar Creek; the addition of a second reservoir on land adjacent to Sympson Lake; making use of Taylorsville Lake water; tapping into Louisville Water Company lines; and raising of the Beech Fork rock dam to increase the pool where water is currently drawn from the river.
Those alternatives are being considered as long-term water sources.
Of more immediate importance than raw water sources is the need for increased storage capacity for treated water at the plant.
Wayne Kendall, Bardstown Water Superintendent, said improvements were needed at the plant to ensure quality drinking water.
High usage during summer months force a quick treatment of water and could cause water quality to suffer as it did last summer.
“It was being used as fast as we could produce it,” Kendall said.
Kendall said treated water needs to be contained in clear wells prior to being distributed to customers.
High summer usage reduced the amount of time available for water to be held in the clear wells.
“You don’t want your water moving that quick,” Kendall said.
Not allowing treated water enough time in the clear wells reduces the quality of Bardstown water.
Kendall said the addition of a one or two million gallon clear well would allow treated water more time before distribution and improve water quality during high usage months.
The addition of a large clear well at the plant and a water line, would allow the treatment and distribution of up to 8 million gallons of quality water per day, according to Kendall.
The plant currently treats and distributes about 6 million gallons per day, but nearly 7 million gallons have been treated and distributed during times of high demand.
When distribution neared 7 million gallons per day last summer, customers were asked to conserve water and limit usage.
Hibbs said the city would begin seeking estimates for a new clear well and Watts said the county would research possible grant funding for the project.
Hibbs said city funds for the improvement were currently unavailable.
The cheapest way to increase raw water holding capacity would be to raise an existing rock dam on Beech Fork by a few feet to increase the volume of pooled water, according to Hibbs.
The old rock dam can be seen from the U.S. 31E bridge spanning Beech Fork.
Some officials voiced preferences of damming other portions of Beech Fork to provide a recreational lake and others prefer not to dam the river at all.
“I’m 100 percent against raising the rock dam or building a lake on Beech Fork,” said District 4 Magistrate Tim Hutchins.
Hutchins believes the city would best serve water customers by adding a new clear well then seeking more service from Louisville Water Company.
Louisville Water Company spokesperson Barbara Crow said the company was interested in extending Louisville water to Bardstown.
Water supply and capacity would not be an issue if Louisville Water Company was to serve Bardstown, Crow said.
“We certainly have the transmission and capacity to get water to Bardstown,” Crow added.
North Nelson Water District and Lebanon Junction’s water department, both of which are bulk customers of Bardstown water, have attached their systems to Louisville Water Company lines in recent years.
Hibbs told officials North Nelson Water District would need more Louisville water in the future if growth in its district continued.
Hutchins noted North Nelson Water District currently received 45 percent of its water from Louisville.
Watts said North Nelson Water District had been pulling more from Louisville to relieve the strain on Bardstown.
Hibbs expects Lebanon Junction to eventually rely solely on Louisville Water.
Lebanon Junction Mayor George Halk said the city could not disconnect from the Bardstown system until a 40-year purchase contract with Bardstown was fulfilled. The contract was signed in the early 1970s.
If all of Bardstown’s current customers were turned over to Louisville Water Company, Hibbs said the city would turn its back on a $40-$50 million investment at its current plant.
The city recently spent $5 million at the water treatment plant and a new clear well could cost between $1-2 million.
In addition to turning away from a large investment, a century old tradition of providing water to residents would end if Louisville Water assumed all of Bardstown water’s customers.
Bardstown has provided water since 1904, according to Hibbs.
Hibbs felt comfortable in Beech Fork’s ability to supply a substantial supply of raw water to Bardstown customers.
Bob White can be reached at 348-9003 Ext. 116 or by e-mail at bwhite@kystandard.com.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Elkhorn Paddle I Thursday
1700cfs
I called in sick to work and ran the Elkhorn this fine January day. The weather was great, 62 degrees and sunny. I met up with a couple of Viking paddlers, James and Scott. Many BWA paddlers were out as well. Be sure to take the left side of the island at this level. There are some good ledges to surf on that side.
The Elkhorn has been toying with us for the past several months, we get some rain, we think the Elkhorn will come up but it never really did. This when got these heavy heavy rains and we finally got a window. I plan on going back this Saturday to test out my new canoe.
This was my first run on the ELkhorn since living in Frankfort. Nice to only drive 10 minutes to get on the river.
One problem with this day. I lost the padding to my helmet, flew out of the truck. That sucks.
I called in sick to work and ran the Elkhorn this fine January day. The weather was great, 62 degrees and sunny. I met up with a couple of Viking paddlers, James and Scott. Many BWA paddlers were out as well. Be sure to take the left side of the island at this level. There are some good ledges to surf on that side.
The Elkhorn has been toying with us for the past several months, we get some rain, we think the Elkhorn will come up but it never really did. This when got these heavy heavy rains and we finally got a window. I plan on going back this Saturday to test out my new canoe.
This was my first run on the ELkhorn since living in Frankfort. Nice to only drive 10 minutes to get on the river.
One problem with this day. I lost the padding to my helmet, flew out of the truck. That sucks.
Monday, January 2, 2006
2nd Day of the Year, BSF
Big South Fork, Canyon Section
680cfs
The weather looked right. The water looked right. We were off from work, so that was looking right too. Now all we had to do was go, so we did.
On Monday Jan. 2nd 2006 Jay and I headed for the BSF. The weather was having a hard time reaching the predicted 60 degrees and in the canyon things were a little bit colder than up above. The fog was everywhere as well. But all of that just added to the mystic.
The run starts at Maria's Rock and ends with the O&W Bridge. The rapid highlights are Jake's Ledge hole and Moon Shot which is right after. I flipped in both of them. The water was freezing. Good times though.
The drive from Frankfort to the Canyon took 3 hours. Driving home took closer to 3 1/2 when huge thunderstorms began hitting Kentucky.
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