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LOJIC Disclaimer

Beargrass Creek Watershed

The Beargrass Creek Watershed is probably the most diverse watershed in terms of geographic area and land usage. The entire area covers approximately 61 square miles and is divided by three major sub-basins — the Muddy Fork, the Middle Fork and the South Fork.

All three sub-basins flow from suburban areas that were developed — and continue to develop since the early 1960s. They flow through many older neighborhoods, such as the Highlands, Germantown, Phoenix Hill and Butchertown before they come together and flow into the Ohio River just above the downtown Louisville area.

The Beargrass Creek Watershed represents a sampling of practically every water quality problem that can be imagined, including: combined and sanitary sewer overflows; package water quality treatment centers; septic tank seepage; urban stormwater run-off (non-point source pollution from streets, lawns and parking lots); erosion and sedimentation problems; and flood management. The entire watershed, including the piped sections in the City of Louisville, receives stormwater and wastewater flow from residential, commercial and industrial customers. Approximately three miles of the open sections of the creek were piped or channelized from the 1930s to the 1960s.

During the past 20 years, most of the package water quality treatment centers along Beargrass Creek have been removed by MSD trunk sewer construction. The same trunk sewers have also eliminated almost all the septic tanks in the watershed, although a few still exist.

Future water quality initiatives in the watershed will focus on combined sewer and sanitary sewer overflows; flooding; non-point sources pollution and natural stream corridor restoration. There are currently 63 combined sewer overflows and approximately 32 sanitary sewer overflows in the Beargrass Creek Watershed. With more than 80 miles of open drainage channel, creeks and smaller tributaries, the access of non-point source pollution in the form of storm run-off is almost endless.

These issues will be harder to address; will take longer to correct; and will cost more. For instance, petroleum products that are deposited on roadways and parking lots will be much more difficult to collect and treat than the flow from a single pipe to a treatment plant. In addition, the use of herbicides and fertilizers is growing and increasing the negative impact on stream quality and aquatic life. Correcting these problems must begin with public education and participation in identifying the most cost-effective solutions.

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