Jim Carroll

(502) 564-8110, ext. 307

Jim.Carroll@ky.gov

    FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 8, 2004) -Scenic streams snake through Big Bone Lick State Park near Union in Boone County.

   But on closer inspection, a visitor would notice that many sections of streams have high, eroded banks. As a result, trees and other plants can’t take root, and often end up being washed away. During heavy rains, the creek is flood prone.  Additionally, two dams built across one stream are failing, threatening significant sedimentation of the stream.

    That will change soon, thanks to a stream restoration project conducted by the Center for Applied Ecology at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. NKU has begun a two-year program to restore Big Bone Creek and its tributaries within the boundaries of the park.

     NKU will remove the ponds, re-grade and stabilize eroded banks were possible so that they taper more gradually, remove invasive non-native plants, and re-establish a riparian forest buffer using indigenous species. The result will be streams with reduced erosion and sedimentation that are able to retain water better and will look more natural, in keeping with the ambiance of a park that commemorates and preserves the site of pioneer-era discoveries of extinct species.

The project is underwritten by environmental mitigation funds made available through development at the Northern Kentucky / Greater Cincinnati International Airport.  The project was identified by NKU and selected by an interagency Mitigation Review Team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Ky. Department of Fish and Wildlife,

the Ky. Division of Water, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    “We appreciate NKU and the review team choosing our park for this pilot project,” Parks Commissioner George Ward said. “This is an ideal example of a public partnership carried out for the good of Kentuckians.”

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 51 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $230 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.kystateparks.ky.gov