2015 - Page 4 of 7 - Bluegrass Greensource

Working together to improve the water quality in our rivers and streams

August 11, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

Kentucky’s rivers and streams provide abundant habitat for aquatic life, numerous opportunities for recreation, scenic beauty and a source of drinking water for our communities. Across our state, small streams flow directly into larger bodies of water. These streams, rivers and lakes provide us with more than 100 different species of fish and other aquatic life.

But many of Kentucky’s streams and rivers are polluted, are not safe for swimming or fishing, and do not provide a suitable environment for sensitive aquatic species. Water pollution is primarily caused by human activity—wastewater, chemicals, trash and soil can run off the land and end up in our waterways.

A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. Watersheds cross local, county, state and national boundaries. In the United States, 2,267 watersheds spread across millions of square miles. On a large scale, a river basin is the land area that is drained by a river and its tributaries—there are many watersheds within river basins.

The state of Kentucky is comprised of 12 river basins within its approximate 24 million acres: Big Sandy, Green, Kentucky, Licking, Little Sandy, Lower Cumberland, Mississippi, Salt, Tennessee, Tradewater, Tygarts and Upper Cumberland. Within the 12 river basins in Kentucky, smaller subbasins exist. Central Kentucky includes the Lower Kentucky River subbasin, which spans portions of 25 counties.

The Dix River is part of the Lower Kentucky River subbasin and is highly polluted. This river and its tributaries have been found to have elevated levels of E.coli, a pathogen that can cause gastroenteritis and other health complications in humans. Some areas of the watershed have exceptionally high levels of E.coli that make streams unsafe for fishing, swimming, wading, and other kinds of water recreation. Sites recently sampled averaged at least four times the limit for E. coli. While livestock farms contribute to E.coli contamination in rural streams, extensive water testing and analysis has shown that contamination in the Dix River watershed is primarily from human waste sources, likely from failing septic systems and straight pipes.

To help improve water quality in the Dix River watershed, Bluegrass Greensource offers homeowner workshops in Boyle, Garrard and Lincoln counties. Participants will learn about local watersheds and water quality, how to properly care for septic systems, and how to identify problems with septic systems.

Following each workshop, participants can apply for a cost-share grant for septic system repairs or for a free septic tank pumpout. To be eligible for the grants, homeowners must reside within the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard or Lincoln counties. The next free septic system workshops will be held in October in Garrard, Lincoln and Boyle counties. Visit www.bgGreensource.org this fall for additional information.

This program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, through the Kentucky Division of Water.

Bridget Abernathy is an outreach specialist at Bluegrass Greensource, focusing on the Live Green Lexington Partners Program and the Dix River Watershed Septic Assistance Program. Before joining Bluegrass Greensource, she worked in the Stewardship Program with Kentucky Division of Forestry. Bridget received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky.

This article appeared in KY Forward on August 6, 2015.

Rising demands of energy mean conservation is as important as ever

August 11, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

The majority of students in Central Kentucky, as well as their teachers and parents, have little practical knowledge about energy production in the state or the impact that energy production has on our culture, economy, and natural resources. With funding provided by the Department for Energy Development and Independence, Bluegrass Greensource environmental educators are able to provide this much-needed exposure in the classroom and at family science fairs.

As future leaders, today’s students need to be knowledgeable so they can make informed decisions in their lives today and in the future. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to continue educating Kentucky’s students about our energy sources, teaching both the positive and negative aspects of using coal and alternative energy sources.

Through a series of experiential classroom activities, each aligned to Kentucky’s Core Academic Standards, students learn about coal and its role in the economies of Kentucky and the nation; the historical and cultural aspects of coal production; and the environmental challenges related to the production and use of coal. These energy-related activities also enable students to explore the feasibility of alternative energy resources and their role in meeting the energy needs of Kentucky and the nation.

Furthermore, students learn early on the importance of conserving and being more energy efficient as a way to offset the rising demands of energy in Kentucky.

The following 10 energy conservation tips can help cut household energy costs this summer and ensure affordable and accessible energy resources for future generations:

1. When you leave your house, set the air conditioner’s thermostat to 85 degrees. When you return, lower the thermostat to a comfortable level. We recommend 78 degrees. Also, keep inside air vents clear from furniture and other objects.

2. Schedule regular service checks for your air conditioner unit. We recommend at least once a year. Replace filters when they start to get dirty. Changing filters regularly ensures your system is operating effectively and efficiently.

3. To minimize heat indoors, avoid heat-generating appliances during the day such as the clothes dryer, dishwasher and oven. When possible, let your clothes and dishes air dry and cook on an outdoor grill. We recommend avoiding the use of these major appliances between the hours of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

4. Set your water heater no higher than 120°F.

5. To cool your home without using energy, close the windows and blinds during the day and open them at night (make sure the A/C isn’t set lower than the outside temperature).

6. Invest in low-cost, high-efficiency fans to help your home stay cooler.

7. Set your washing machine to its cold water setting and clean the lint filter in the dryer after every use.

8. Make trips in and out of the refrigerator/freezer as quickly as possible. Never leave the door open while unpacking groceries or while deciding what to eat.

9. Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use. Plug home electronics, such as TVs, DVD players and computers into power strips and turn off power strips when not in use.

10. If you have a pool: Slowly reduce pool filtration time by 30-minute increments daily. You may only need to run your pool filter six hours a day. Install a timer to control the length of the pool pump cycle.

I encourage parents to share energy bills with their children. Together you can work on reducing your household’s energy consumption and save money at the same time. Children can do their part by turning the light off in their room when they leave, taking shorter showers, and turning devices off when not in use. Set a reasonable goal for your family’s energy reduction. Celebrate the amount of money you’ve saved that month by going out for pizza or ice cream, or by putting it in a vacation fund jar.

To further your understanding about Kentucky’s energy sources and to stay current on energy research and development, visit DEDI’s website.

Emily Casey is an environmental educator at Bluegrass Greensource. She works primarily with elementary and middle school students. She has a bachelor’s education and environmental studies from the University of Vermont. Casey spends her free time exploring Lexington and spending time outdoors around the beautiful Bluegrass Region she now calls home.

This article appeared in KY Forward on July 30, 2015.

Underserved community gets a little environmental help from its friends

August 11, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

You might have heard of the Night Market, a monthly first-Friday staple of food, entertainment and shopping at the corner of North Limestone and Loudon Avenue in Lexington. You might be less familiar with the nonprofit community development corporation behind the market.

The North Limestone Community Development Corporation, or NoLi CDC, is a nonprofit organization providing a range of economic development services to this underserved community. Its projects range from programmatic elements, such as the Night Market, to infrastructural and cultural elements, such as the redevelopment of a series of row houses.

One of the more recent initiatives of NoLi CDC involves environmental remediation issues. The CDC partnered with neighborhood and community organizations such as Bluegrass Greensource, Town Branch Tree Experts and EcoGro to develop a comprehensive stormwater management and education program, which was awarded a Stormwater Incentive Grant.

“The breadth and scope of this grant is made possible by the community partnerships involved,” says Richard Young, director of the CDC. “The five different environmental strategies this grant uses – rain gardens, rain barrels, street trees, community gardens and litter cleanups – highlight the diverse specialties of our neighbors.”

All the components of this grant from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government are intended to address issues of stormwater quantity and quality in the neighborhood. Much of the neighborhood lacks a storm sewer system because it was originally developed outside city limits. This has led to problems of flooding and poor water quality, as swift flows pick up litter and debris and carry it to Cane Run, a federally listed impaired stream that originates in North Lexington and eventually provides much of the drinking water for Georgetown.

Bluegrass Greensource has been an integral part of both the rain barrel workshops and the litter cleanups. The first series of workshops distributed over 25 rain barrels to neighborhood residents. The first litter cleanup removed over 300 pounds of trash and recyclables from the ground in the neighborhood, helping to improve the quality of water in both the Town Branch and Cane Run streams.

Town Branch Tree Experts provided the equipment and expertise needed to install over 100 street trees in June. These trees were available free of charge to residents of North Limestone and the Castlewood and Martin Luther King neighborhoods. These street trees will help absorb and filter stormwater and will add to the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood overall.

Ecological restoration experts EcoGro will design and install the rain gardens in Castlewood Park, and construction is scheduled to begin later in the fall. These rain gardens will help reduce flooding in the area by storing stormwater and letting it percolate into the soil slowly following rain events. Native plants in the garden will provide supportive habitat for monarch butterflies, bees, and other species of concern.

The next litter cleanup is scheduled for Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. Information on location will be announced on the Bluegrass Greensource website and Facebook page, as well as the NoLi CDC website.

Registration for the next rain barrel workshop will be available on the NoLi CDC. Pre-registration is required, and slots will fill fast. Any resident of the North Limestone, Castlewood or Martin Luther King neighborhoods is eligible.

Schuyler Warren is an outreach specialist for Bluegrass Greensource, focusing on participation in the LiveGreenLexington initiative by businesses in the city core. A native of the Bluegrass Region, he received a master’s in community and regional planning and in landscape architecture from the University of Oregon. He is a board member for Town Branch Trail and Castlewood Neighborhood Association.

This article appeared in KY Forward on July 22, 2015.

July Newsletter

July 15, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

SAVE WATER AND MONEY WITH THESE LOW AND NO COST CONSERVATION TIPS!

If you’re looking to make your home more sustainable, re-evaluating your residential water use is a great place to start. Saving water at home can help you save some serious cash. Here are 5 tips to help you get started! Read More…

WATER WARRIORS LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CONSERVATION

Bluegrass Greensource is educating Central Kentucky youth on the value of water quality and conservation through the 2015 Water Warrior Summer Camp Series. Working primarily with 4th graders and operating in Bourbon, Scott, Woodford, and Owen Counties, environmental educators Emily Casey and Danny Woolums are helping campers understand the basics. Read More…

IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY’S RIVERS AND STREAMS

Kentucky’s rivers and streams provide abundant habitat for aquatic life, numerous opportunities for recreation, scenic beauty, and a source of drinking water for our communities. Across our state, small streams flow directly into larger bodies of water. These streams, rivers, and lakes provide us with more than 100 different species of fish and other aquatic life. But many of Kentucky’s streams and rivers are polluted, are not safe for swimming or fishing, and do not provide a suitable environment for sensitive aquatic species. Water pollution is primarily caused by human activity – wastewater, chemicals, trash, and soil can run off the land and end up in our waterways. Read More…

2015 RAIN GARDEN TOURS WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH

Thirty visitors from around the Central Kentucky area toured thirteen established rain gardens in Midway, Berea, and Georgetown this past weekend as part of the 2015 Central Kentucky Rain Garden Tour Series. Gardens featured in the tour include private residences, Midway Christian Church, Berea College, Scott County Fire Station No. 3, Lemon’s Mill Elementary School, and others. Read More…

Check out our Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming green events in your community! Submit your organization’s green event here.

2015 Rain Garden Tours Went Off Without a Hitch

July 15, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

“This year’s rain garden tours, despite inclement weather, turned out to be quite lovely.,” said Kara Sayles, coordinator of the rain garden program at Bluegrass Greensource. “The participating hosts and visitors were all very interested and up for exploration of native plants and rain garden construction. The mood was light and fun as we viewed a variety of rain gardens throughout Central Kentucky.”

Tour participants were educated on the construction and maintenance of rain gardens, types of native plants and trees that are appropriate, and how rain gardens, an attractive addition to any lawn, help to improve local water quality. Additionally, participants who reside in Scott, Woodford, Bourbon, Clark, Jessamine, and Madison Counties were given the opportunity to apply for a $250 reimbursement grant to start their own rain gardens.

The 2015 Central Kentucky Rain Garden Tour Series was a collaborative effort between Bluegrass Greensource, a variety of local organizations and homeowners, and the Kentucky Division of Water.

Improving Water Quality in Central Kentucky’s Rivers and Streams

July 15, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

unnamed2 Kentucky’s rivers and streams provide abundant habitat for aquatic life, numerous opportunities for recreation, scenic beauty, and a source of drinking water for our communities. Across our state, small streams flow directly into larger bodies of water. These streams, rivers, and lakes provide us with more than 100 different species of fish and other aquatic life. But many of Kentucky’s streams and rivers are polluted, are not safe for swimming or fishing, and do not provide a suitable environment for sensitive aquatic species. Water pollution is primarily caused by human activity—wastewater, chemicals, trash, and soil can run off the land and end up in our waterways.

unnamed3 A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. Watersheds cross local, county, state, and national boundaries. In the United States, 2,267 watersheds spread across millions of square miles. On a large scale, a river basin is the land area that is drained by a river and its tributaries—there are many watersheds within river basins. The state of Kentucky is comprised of 12 river basins within its approximate 24 million acres: Big Sandy, Green, Kentucky, Licking, Little Sandy, Lower Cumberland, Mississippi, Salt, Tennessee, Tradewater, Tygarts, and Upper Cumberland. Within the 12 river basins in Kentucky, smaller subbasins exist. Central Kentucky includes the Lower Kentucky River subbasin, which spans portions of 25 counties.

unnamed1 The Dix River is part of the Lower Kentucky River subbasin, and is highly polluted. This river and its tributaries have been found to have elevated levels of E.coli, a pathogen that can cause gastroenteritis and other health complications in humans. Some areas of the watershed have exceptionally high levels of E.coli that make streams unsafe for fishing, swimming, wading, and other kinds of water recreation. Sites recently sampled averaged at least four times the limit for E. coli. While livestock farms contribute to E.coli contamination in rural streams, extensive water testing and analysis has shown that contamination in the Dix River watershed is primarily from human waste sources, likely from failing septic systems and straight pipes.

To help improve water quality in the Dix River watershed, Bluegrass Greensource offers homeowner workshops in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties. Participants will learn about local watersheds and water quality, how to properly care for septic systems, and how to identify problems with septic systems. Following the workshop, participants can apply for a cost-share grant for septic system repairs, or for a free septic tank pumpout. To be eligible for the grants, homeowners must reside within the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard, or Lincoln Counties.

The next free septic system workshop will be held on:

Saturday, July 18^th
10:00-11:00 am
Lincoln County Health Department
44 Health Way
Stanford, KY 40484

This program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, through the Kentucky Division of Water.

Save Water and Money With These Low and No Cost Conservation Tips!

July 14, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA If you’re looking to make your home more sustainable, re-evaluating your residential water use is a great place to start. Saving water at home can help you save some serious cash. Here are 5 tips to help you get started!

1. Be on the lookout for lost water.

This one is easier than it sounds. Drop an ice cube on the floor? Toss it in a house plant or pet water bowl instead of the sink! Rinsing your razor in running water while shaving? Try filling the basin with water and using it to rinse, instead! Being water-aware will help you find a variety of ways to conserve water at home.

2. Check your home for leaks.

Did you know that a leaking faucet that loses one drop per second wastes over 3,000 gallons per year? Even worse, a running toilet can lose up to 200 gallons per day! Thankfully, this is a pretty easy fix. Most repairs are inexpensive and can be done in just a few minutes. Taking the time to repair leaks in your home can save you a lot of money in the long run and certainly helps out the environment as well.

3. Turn the water off when not in use.

Your mother knew what she was doing when she told you to turn the water off while you brush your teeth. By closing off the tap while you polish those pearly whites, you can save between three and five gallons a day. That’s roughly two thousand gallons per year! Looking to save even more? Try turning off the shower head while you lather your hair and you’ll save an additional 150 gallons per month!

4. Put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank.

That may sound crazy, but bear with me. By filling a plastic bottle with a combination of sand and water and placing it in your toilet tank – safely away from the mechanics, of course – you can displace water in the tank. This reduces how much water remains in the tank at any given time and how much water is used when flushing. You’ll save money and water with each flush! (Be sure that you leave at least 3 gallons of water in the tank to ensure proper flushing.)

5. Avoid your garbage disposal.

In-sink garbage disposals require a lot of water to function properly and add to the volume of solid wastes in septic systems. Instead, start your own compost bin! You’ll save water and have home-made fertilizer for use in your garden!

Water Warriors Learn the Importance of Water Conservation

July 14, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

MidwayUniversityWaterWarriors Bluegrass Greensource is educating Central Kentucky youth on the value of water quality and conservation through the 2015 Water Warrior Summer Camp Series. Working primarily with 4^th graders and operating in Bourbon, Scott, Woodford, and Owen Counties, environmental educators Emily Casey and Danny Woolums are helping campers understand the basics.

“We only have such a small amount of potable water compared to the all water on Earth,” Casey notes when asked why she thinks the Water Warrior camps are so important. “We can’t take this precious, potentially renewable resource for granted. We must teach the importance of conserving water to our children, the next generation, to ensure a clean, healthy, viable future for generations to come.”

Using activities from Project Wet, an internationally recognized water education foundation, and other environmental educational resources, Casey and Woolums are shaping a camp that both excites and educates students about the ways they can better care for our local waterways.

The Water Warrior Summer Camp Series is made possible by a grant from Kentucky American Water, whose team is committed to protecting the environment and using resource wisely, and the support and generosity of area organizations such 4-H, YMCA, the public school system, and Midway University.

Tour showcases the beauty, benefits of Central Kentucky rain gardens

July 9, 2015By BGGS Admin0 comment

Screen shot 2015-06-30 at 2.11.36 PM
A rain garden is a shallow depression that captures runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, patios, driveways and parking lots, before it enters the storm water system. A rain garden uses natural processes to improve water quality by filtering pollutants and reducing the amount of storm water runoff. The water easily infiltrates into the soil because of the deep roots of the native plants and recharges the groundwater supply.

Rain gardens:

Significantly filter and reduce runoff before it enters local waterways and groundwater
Decrease drainage problems and localized flooding
Conserve water and reduce pollution
Attract pollinators such as birds, bees, and butterflies, and provide habitat for other wildlife
Recharge the groundwater supply
Enhance the beauty of yards and communities

Over the past two years, Bluegrass Greensource has held a series of workshops to provide Central Kentucky homeowners with the grants and guidance needed to install rain garden at their homes. These workshops educate homeowners about what they can do to help prevent stormwater issues at home and in their communities.

Bluegrass Greensource invites you to attend the ninth annual Rain Garden Tour series this July. The tours are a culmination of recent efforts to promote the use of rain gardens in Central Kentucky, and will showcase how rain gardens can be an attractive addition to your yard and help improve water quality.

The tours will be held on:

July 10 in Midway from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., starting at Midway Christian Church
July 11 in Berea from 1-4 p.m., starting at Union Church
July 12 in Georgetown from 1-4 p.m., starting at Scott County Public Library

Tour participants will view a variety of beautiful, established rain gardens varying in size, and design. They will also learn how to design and construct a rain garden of their own. Residents of Scott, Woodford, Bourbon, Clark, Jessamine and Madison counties will be eligible for a $250 reimbursement grant upon completion of a tour.

For additional details about rain gardens or the tour, visit our rain gardens page.

Kara Sayles is an environmental educator at Bluegrass Greensource, focusing on middle and high school grade levels. In addition, she serves the Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance as rain garden project coordinator. Kara holds a bachelor’s degreefrom The Evergreen State College. She also received an associate’s degree from Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

This article appeared in KY Forward on July 1, 2015.

Yearly Archives: 2015

Working together to improve the water quality in our rivers and streams

Rising demands of energy mean conservation is as important as ever

Underserved community gets a little environmental help from its friends

2015 Rain Garden Tours Went Off Without a Hitch

Improving Water Quality in Central Kentucky’s Rivers and Streams

Save Water and Money With These Low and No Cost Conservation Tips!

Water Warriors Learn the Importance of Water Conservation

Tour showcases the beauty, benefits of Central Kentucky rain gardens

Green News in the Bluegrass Articles

Small Changes, Big Impact: Earth Day 2024

Small Changes, Big Impact: Holiday Edition!

All Things Energy: Students Investigate the Science of Energy Through Interactive Lessons

Categories