Streams in Danger: Senate Bill 89 and its Impacts on Surface Water Protection in Calloway County, Kentucky
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Earth and Environmental Sciences/Geology
Minor
Nonprofit Leadership Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Robin Zhang
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation - Murray State Access only
Abstract/Description
Senate Bill 89, which passed during the 2025 legislative session, brought forth major reductions within Kentucky’s surface water protection infrastructure. This reduces the definition of protected surface waters (like streams) to only those deemed navigable by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a large difference to the past in Kentucky, when all waterways were privy to some protection. The study applies this new definition of what waters are protected to the study area of Calloway County, Kentucky to determine the impact of how many streams are no longer protected under this new law, and how this will affect the community of Murray, Kentucky. Using digital versions of United States Geological Survey topographic maps, each labeled stream on the map was chronicled, as well as their protection status, relation to other streams, if they crossed through Murray, Kentucky, and if they impacted any community areas within Murray, Kentucky (such as residential or recreational areas). This was then contextualized by usage of Microsoft Excel tables and ArcGIS Pro mapping software to be able to display the information spatially.
After looking at seventy-four local streams, it was found that sixty-one out of seventy-four streams were no longer protected. Eight of seventy-four streams have uncertain protection status and only five out of the seventy-four waterways are considered protected. Overall, there were four streams that passed through Murray, Ky with each intersecting with a community area. Over half of the waterways are also related to one another, often serving as a tributary to a larger stream. The implications that these results show are that the bill repealed much of the protections for surface water within the state, and that the community areas within Murray and waters within Calloway County are within a higher risk of pollution due to Senate Bill 89. However, to achieve a more comprehensive look at water affected under this bill, more research would have to be done, more clarification of the federal definition would be needed, and a broader study area and topics would help. Moving forward, communities can help advocate for local legislation to defend their waterways, as well as engage with nonprofit organizations that continue advocacy work to protect the streams around them.
Fall Scholars Week 2025
Earth and Environmental Sciences Poster Session
Other Scholars Week Event
N/A
Streams in Danger: Senate Bill 89 and its Impacts on Surface Water Protection in Calloway County, Kentucky
Senate Bill 89, which passed during the 2025 legislative session, brought forth major reductions within Kentucky’s surface water protection infrastructure. This reduces the definition of protected surface waters (like streams) to only those deemed navigable by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This is a large difference to the past in Kentucky, when all waterways were privy to some protection. The study applies this new definition of what waters are protected to the study area of Calloway County, Kentucky to determine the impact of how many streams are no longer protected under this new law, and how this will affect the community of Murray, Kentucky. Using digital versions of United States Geological Survey topographic maps, each labeled stream on the map was chronicled, as well as their protection status, relation to other streams, if they crossed through Murray, Kentucky, and if they impacted any community areas within Murray, Kentucky (such as residential or recreational areas). This was then contextualized by usage of Microsoft Excel tables and ArcGIS Pro mapping software to be able to display the information spatially.
After looking at seventy-four local streams, it was found that sixty-one out of seventy-four streams were no longer protected. Eight of seventy-four streams have uncertain protection status and only five out of the seventy-four waterways are considered protected. Overall, there were four streams that passed through Murray, Ky with each intersecting with a community area. Over half of the waterways are also related to one another, often serving as a tributary to a larger stream. The implications that these results show are that the bill repealed much of the protections for surface water within the state, and that the community areas within Murray and waters within Calloway County are within a higher risk of pollution due to Senate Bill 89. However, to achieve a more comprehensive look at water affected under this bill, more research would have to be done, more clarification of the federal definition would be needed, and a broader study area and topics would help. Moving forward, communities can help advocate for local legislation to defend their waterways, as well as engage with nonprofit organizations that continue advocacy work to protect the streams around them.