| No single raindrop believes it is responsible for the flood. The pollution issues that face our watershed have many causes and many responsible parties and are well documented. The 2006 Integrated Report to Congress on the Condition of Water Resources in Kentucky (Volume II. 303(d) List of Surface Waters) identifies Wolf Run as one of Kentucky's impaired streams.  Friends of Wolf Run is working to solve these pollution problems by documenting them with science and technical precision. Specific cases are brought to our attention by members and residents of the watershed that contribute to the degradation of our waterway. Here are summaries of a few of those cases. |
Issue: Stormwater Runoff: Construction Silt and Sediment:
Case: Stormwater Retention Pit, Little Property, Alexandria Drive and Old Frankfort Pike: December 2003  FOWR reported sediment and erosion issues associated with construction of a stormwater retention pond at the corner of Old Frankfort Pike and Alexandria Road (Little Property). Construction activities had disturbed/relocated approximately 200-300 feet of an unnamed tributary (UT) to Wolf Run. Mr. Jerry Woodall and representatives from EA Partners, PLC (Engineering Firm), Mr. Thomas Hatfield and Mr. Robert Young, had not submitted a Water Quality Certification application to the Division of Water before beginning work. Solids appear to have been discharged into the UT to Wolf Run Creek. Excavator (Pictured) was used to dewater pond into UT of Wolf Run. (Discharging silt, sediment along with pond water) The rechannelled stream banks sloughed off and obviously left the site. The rock check dams at the exit point (culvert) had been poorly installed/maintained. There was some silt/sediment deposited near the entrance to the culvert. Kentucky Division of Water Frankfort Field Office conducted several inspections of the site and noted violations listed above. Remediation was initiated by the responsible parties. |
This manhole routinely overflows after 2" + rain, caused by inflow from illegally connected sump pumps in the sewershed between Pasadena, Clays Mill and Southgate Drives. LFUCG has initiated a sump pump redirection program where they will cover the cost of disconnecting illegal sump pumps. As of now, the program is voluntary and participation is low. |
Issue: Leaking Sanitary Sewers: Discharge of pathogens into waterway.| Issue: Stormwater Runoff: Construction Silt and Sediment Case: Construction of new parking lot, Mary Queen School, Clays Mill Road. (August 2005)  Friends of Wolf Run reported lack of silt or sediment control structures for construction project over one acre in size to Kentucky Division of Water Frankfort Regional Office in August 0f 2005. KYDOW Regional Office forwarded the report to LFUCG Division of Engineering. LFUCG Division of Engineering (Barry Brock) said that since this was a demolition project, no silt control was required. FOWR questions that interpretation of LFUCG ordinances (Article 14-60 applies). |
Results were provided to LFUCG Division of Sanitary Sewers in November of 2005. LFUCG Division of Sanitary Sewers dispatched a survey crew to look for potential sources of contamination. LFUCG Sanitary Sewers provided technical assistance to FOWR in a dye tracing project designed to check for leaks in the sewer trunk lines. (No leaks were found) LFUCG Sanitary Sewers Crews continued to check the area with smoke testing equipment. A leak was found in a commercial building's service line connection. LFUCG Sanitary Sewers repaired the leak. |
Issue: Leaking Sanitary Sewers: Discharge of Pathogens Into Waterway
Neighbors contacted Friends of Wolf Run about petroleum smell and rainbow slicks in a runoff ravine entering Preston's Spring Branch off Dunkirk Drive. FOWR Pollutant Source Tracking Volunteers traced the channel to the back of the Chevron Bulk Station on Old Frankfort Pike. Kentucky Division of Water cited the bulk station for KPDES Permit limit for Total Suspended Solids in June of 2005. |
Issue: Stormwater Runoff: Oil, Grease and Total Suspended Solids
FOWR was contacted by concerned individuals regarding a closed filling station. drums of petroleum products were observed on the property. Concern was expressed over potential leaking underground storage tanks. FOWR Contacted Division of Waste Management. LFUCG Department of Emergency and Environmental Management and other parties were already on the case. |
Issue: Potential Leaking Underground Storage Tanks: Oil and Grease Runoff
Neighbors were complaining about weeds growing in the channel of Wolf Run Creek along Southbend and Lafayette Drives. Friends of Wolf Run sponsored a neighborhood roundtable to discuss the issue. Though FOWR moves to protect streamside vegetation the plant growth was primarily located within the bed of the channelized portion of the creek. A compromise was reached under the leadership of 10th District Council Member Sandy Shafer where LFUCG Streets, Roads and Forests would conduct a tree planting program in the right-of-way of the street to shade the stream bed and LFUCG Division of Parks would remove the weeds from the channel. A neighborhood committee was formed to manage the project. FOWR entered into a contract with LFUCG to manage the planting program. |
Issue: Buffer Zone Management: Noxious Weeds
FOWR was contacted about a planned construction project along Wolf Run. Engineers were planning to install a 145' concrete apron along the waterway as a bank stabilization effort. The project fell below state and federal criteria for water quality permits. Project may not have received local grading or construction permits. FOWR has requested assistance of LFUCG and Kentucky Division of Water to resolve jurisdictional issues related to permitting these types of projects. For more information on the issue and FOWR Concerns see this position paper: (Adobe PDF Format Document) |
Issue: Buffer Zone Loss: Removal of vegetation, channel alterationDive in to Get The Dirt Out of our Waterway
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