Please join us September 15, 7:00 p.m., at the United Crescent Hill Ministries building, 150 State St., 40206 when our presenters, Meredith Meyers and Jessica Kane, will discuss the exciting new Mill Creek Stream Restoration Project.
Revitalization is on the horizon for Mill Creek after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a watershed plan that aims to enhance water quality through collaborative initiatives, community engagement and grant opportunities.
The plan brings together Louisville's Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), Kentucky Division of Water (DOW), several project partners, and the general public to combat nonpoint source pollution in the Mill Creek Watershed, a 34-square-mile basin located in southwest Louisville that contains 156.8 stream miles.
Mill Creek currently falls short of meeting local and state standards for healthy waterways. MSD Watershed Program Coordinator Meredith Meyers said this plan creates a path to help solve those issues.
“More than a century of urban growth has dramatically changed how Mill Creek functions and how people connect to it,” Meyers said. “This watershed plan creates an exciting opportunity to bring residents, organizations and agencies together — investing in cleaner water and a healthier, more resilient watershed.”
Nonpoint source pollution generally occurs when rainfall and/or snowmelt picks up and carries garbage, sediment, oil from automobiles, and other pollutants into waterways. The EPA approval of the Mill Creek Watershed Plan opens the door for 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program funding, which awards approximately $1,000,000 for Kentucky-based projects each year. MSD, project partners and community organizations are all now able to apply.
A Watershed Steering Committee will identify early projects and coordinate the resources needed to continue to put the plan into action. The steering committee includes representatives from project partners such as MSD, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Louisville Metro Parks, University of Louisville, Kentucky Watershed Watch, Southwest Dream Team, and the company named "AECOM."
“We are excited to get to work planning for and implementing best management practices in the watershed to highlight Mill Creek as a community asset, not only for recreational use but for educational opportunities as well," said Parks and Recreation Administrator Jessica Kane.
Note: This will be a hybrid meeting, that is, both in-person and virtual. Once you hit the RSVP button, two things will happen:
(1) You’ll be taken to a Zoom meeting registration page. We hope you’ll attend in person, but if you want the option of attending virtually, then please complete the Zoom registration form (this secondary registration enhances security).
(2) You’ll receive a confirmation email that will also contain the Zoom registration link.
We hope you’ll join us for this informative presentation. Our meetings are always free and open to the public.