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Division of Water
JUNE IS RIVERS MONTH: COME JOIN THE FUN

Press Release Date:  Thursday, June 01, 2006  
Contact Information:  Ken Cooke (502) 564-3410  


FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 1, 2006) – Kentuckians are invited to join in the many activities planned for Rivers Month in June.  This is the kickoff for a summer of fun in the sun and water.

Here are some things to do during Rivers Month in Kentucky:

  • Start the celebration at the 23rd Annual Rockcastle River Day at the Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest Center in Livingston, Ky., on June 3 and 4.  This year’s theme is A Rockcastle Reunion.  It includes a canoe trip on the Rockcastle River, a cookout, educational displays, live music, tours and games for kids and adults, question and answer sessions about your favorite stream or river and aquatic learning activities by the Division of Water’s Water Watch Program coordinator, Ken Cooke.  See more at http://www.a-spi.org/riverday.htm.
  • Become a volunteer water monitor.  Free training workshops will be held at Centre College on June 3 and 24.  Sign up online at http://kywater.org/watch/ky.htm.
  • Take a riverboat cruise. 
    • The Dixie Belle at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill will be running regular daily cruises on the Kentucky River through the Palisades.  For information call (800) 734-5611.
    • Ohio River Sightseeing Cruises Covington/Cincinnati Harbor are operated daily by B and B Riverboats, departing from Newport Harbor and the new aquarium dock.  For additional information: http://www.bbriverboats.com/sightseeing.html or call (800) 261-8586.
    • Louisville Waterfront Excursions occur on the Ohio River on the Belle of Louisville daily.  Visit http://www.belleoflouisville.org/ or call (502) 564-2992 for information.
  • Go whitewater rafting.  Enjoy one of Kentucky’s nine Wild and Scenic Rivers by rafting on the Cumberland River below Cumberland Falls.  Sheltowee Trace Outfitters will guide you down Class III rapids and through the “outback” of the Daniel Boone National Forest.  Call (800) 541-RAFT.
  • Take a leisurely canoe float on one of Kentucky’s many easy rivers.  Commercial outfitters across Kentucky can provide you with canoes, equipment and shuttle services.  Visit the Kentucky Professional Paddlers Association Web site, http://www.kyppa.org/FindOutfitter.htm or call (800) 928-0045 Ext. 473 for information.
  • Go fishing.  On Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, anglers can fish anywhere in the Bluegrass State without a license.  Free fishing days are an excellent time to invite family and friends from out of state to enjoy Kentucky’s waterways and have a fish fry over the weekend.  Many organizations provide opportunities for young people to experience fishing on the free fishing weekend. One of the largest is held at Green River State Park, held by the Green River/Taylor County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.  For more information, contact Norm Minch at (800) 858-1549.
  • Visit a creek or river in the watershed where you live and work.  Don’t know where that is?  Zoom in on your watershed with the state’s “Watershed Viewer” at http://map.nr.state.ky.us/website/watershedsz/viewer.htm to find information about your local stream or river.  For more information contact the Kentucky Division of Water, Watershed Management Branch (502) 564-3410.
  • Volunteer for the Ohio River Sweep, scheduled for June 17.  This is a riverbank cleanup carried out by thousands of volunteers.  The Ohio River Sweep extends from its origin in Pittsburgh to its end at Cairo, Ill.  It includes 1,962 miles of shoreline and many tributaries, including the Kentucky River.  Since 1989, River Sweep has been organized by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, an interstate water pollution agency for the Ohio River Valley, along with environmental protection and natural resource agencies from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.  For more information, call the Ohio River Sweep Hotline: (800) 359-3977. 
  • Visit a state park.  The Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen will be docking and visiting Columbus-Belmont State Park (Hickman County) on June 1, 5 and 16.  At Fort Boonesborough State Park (Madison and Clark counties), June 16-18 is Kentucky River Weekend.  There will be activities and programs on the value and history of the Kentucky River, along with games, tours, hikes and historic presentations all weekend. This event is for registered campers. For more information, call the park at (859) 527-3131.

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