Finance and Administration Cabinet
Kentucky River Authority holds 18th Annual River Sweep June 20

For Immediate Release:                                                                                             

Frankfort, KY. – The Kentucky River Authority (KRA), in conjunction with the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), will begin the Seventh Annual River Sweep on Saturday, June 20, 2009. This event will give individuals and communities the opportunity to actively make a difference in the quality of the environment, enhance the opportunity for tourism and economic development and learn more about community pride and organization.

Due to our recent severe storms and heavy rains, the dates for river sweeps in several Kentucky counties have been rescheduled.  Gallatin, Grant, Jessamine and Lee counties will hold their river sweeps this Saturday, June 20.  Franklin County will hold its sweep on Saturday, June 27.  Woodford County will hold its sweep on Saturday, July 11.  The remaining counties have postponed their river sweeps until Saturday, July 18.

In 1991, KRA made its first effort to clean up the banks of the Kentucky River and its tributaries. Since then, the river authority has organized an annual river sweep. Volunteers have removed tons of trash and debris, including household appliances, automobiles and recyclable items from the river and its tributaries. In 1997, the KRA and ORSANCO became partners in a joint effort to clean up the riverbanks in six states.

KRA was first established by the General Assembly in 1986 to take over operation of the Kentucky River Locks and Dams 5 – 14 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1990, the river authority was given a broader watershed management mission to enhance water supply and improve water quality throughout the Kentucky River Basin. This was the first effort by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to manage natural resources through a coordinated watershed management program.

The Kentucky River, including its upper tributaries, is approximately 420 miles long from its beginning in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to the Ohio River in Carrollton. There are 42 counties in the Kentucky River Basin, and more than 900,000 people depend on the Kentucky River for their primary source of drinking water, agricultural production and numerous industrial uses.

If you would like more information or would like to participate in the 2009 Kentucky River Basin River Sweep, please contact Sue Ann Elliston at (859)527-3356 or sue.elliston@ky.gov .

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