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In the late 1950's, recurring flooding damaged thousands of acres of cropland in Henry and Trimble Counties. The town of Sulphur was underwater and many homes were lost. The Henry & Trimble County Conservation Districts worked with the Fiscal Courts in each county and the Soil Conservation Service to develop a project that would protect residents in this watershed from future damage. A board of directors was formed from landowners within the watershed to oversee the activities.
Five reservoirs were built throughout the watershed at a cost of $1.7 million in Federal funds. The largest of the five, Lake Jericho, was also designed as a recreation area; it covers 136 acres and is open year round for fishing, camping, picnicking, boating, etc. Around 40,000 people visit Lake Jericho annually, producing close to $100,000 revenue each year. The recreation area has a full-time manager who is supervised by the watershed board. In addition to the income from Lake Jericho receipts, the Conservancy District receives revenue from a millage tax imposed on land within the watershed that helps to operate and maintain all five structures.
In 2001 the District received a $7500 environmental grant from the KY Division of Conservation to gather data and raise awareness about the Little Kentucky River, in our local schools and communities. Studies will be ongoing through a partnership with the Salt River Watershed Watch program and local volunteers trained in stream monitoring.
The Little Kentucky. River Watershed Conservancy District, a sub-district of the local county conservation districts, is comprised of eight board members, five from Henry County and three from Trimble County. The Board of Directors meets monthly to review activities occurring within the watershed. All meetings are open to the public.
[Greta Steverson is District Conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service. She and Mikki Croxton, Administrative Secretary for the Henry County Conservation District, provide staff support to the Little Kentucky Watershed District. Phone 502-845-2890.]
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