Letcher County: The Head of Three Rivers Project, Capacity Building
Contact Information
 OSM/VISTA:
Reuben LiebeSupervisor: Alice Jones Sponsoring Organization: Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute Address: PO Box 1422, Whitesburg, KY 41858 Phone: 606.633.0720 E-Mail: letcherwater@gmail.com Alice.jones@eku.edu U.S. Congressional Districts: 5th County: Letcher |
Background:
Letcher
County is situated
at the headwaters of
three major rivers,
The Kentucky River,
The Big Sandy River,
and the Cumberland
River. In fact, no
streams flow into
Letcher County. Yet,
the streams within
Letcher County are
severely polluted
with a combination
of AMDs and raw
sewage pathogens.
The areas where the
effects of these
problems are the
most acute are coal
camp towns that were
hastily constructed
without
consideration of
public utilities.
Once the companies
moved out, the homes
and the people
stayed with a legacy
of environmental
difficulties.
Multiple generations
have grown up
knowing that their
water is
contaminated yet
without the
capability to
confront it. Within
the past ten years a
major effort has
been made to
confront these
problems resulting
in the formation of
a countywide water
and sewer district
to serve homes
throughout the
county. Yet a need
exists for community
involvement and
participation that
cannot be met by a
public utility. The
OSM/VISTA is working
to spread awareness
of environmental
problems and
solutions by
connecting
scientific data with
community knowledge
and working with
local citizens to
build momentum
towards change.
The Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute is a new organization whose mission is to serve as an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional approach to understanding eastern Kentucky's ecosystems; connecting the university's technical expertise and resources to the region's needs; and linking this research to math and science education at the university and throughout the region. This is accomplished through a combination of approaches including building local community capacity to address environmental problems by providing technical expertise, and partnering with local formal and non-formal educators to involve community members in ongoing environmental monitoring, research, and restoration/ preservation activities.
Goals and Accomplishments:
The first major goal of the OSM/VISTA has been to compile as much existing information about Letcher County's waterways as possible. This has included gathering scientific data, reports from government projects, and researching local histories. This is an ongoing process but significant progress has been made. Having this background knowledge makes it possible to work with schools and community groups to share this information with the people that live by the streams to encourage involvement in future projects.
As local people become involved with these projects the OSM/VISTA helps increase media presence and raise funds so that momentum is built from each effort. For example after some high school students sampled a creek in town and found high fecal counts, the OSM/VISTA spoke with their class and encouraged them to take their concerns to the local fiscal court. The students arranged a presentation and the OSM/VISTA wrote up a press release. This increased the awareness of their efforts and lead to the students being asked to meet with kids from an after school program hosted by a local community center. Currently the OSM/VISTA is fundraising to create possibilities for further efforts.
Partners and Contributors:
Letcher
County is situated
at the headwaters of
three major rivers,
The Kentucky River,
The Big Sandy River,
and the Cumberland
River. In fact, no
streams flow into
Letcher County. Yet,
the streams within
Letcher County are
severely polluted
with a combination
of AMDs and raw
sewage pathogens.
The areas where the
effects of these
problems are the
most acute are coal
camp towns that were
hastily constructed
without
consideration of
public utilities.
Once the companies
moved out, the homes
and the people
stayed with a legacy
of environmental
difficulties.
Multiple generations
have grown up
knowing that their
water is
contaminated yet
without the
capability to
confront it. Within
the past ten years a
major effort has
been made to
confront these
problems resulting
in the formation of
a countywide water
and sewer district
to serve homes
throughout the
county. Yet a need
exists for community
involvement and
participation that
cannot be met by a
public utility. The
OSM/VISTA is working
to spread awareness
of environmental
problems and
solutions by
connecting
scientific data with
community knowledge
and working with
local citizens to
build momentum
towards change.
The Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute is a new organization whose mission is to serve as an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional approach to understanding eastern Kentucky's ecosystems; connecting the university's technical expertise and resources to the region's needs; and linking this research to math and science education at the university and throughout the region. This is accomplished through a combination of approaches including building local community capacity to address environmental problems by providing technical expertise, and partnering with local formal and non-formal educators to involve community members in ongoing environmental monitoring, research, and restoration/ preservation activities.
Goals and Accomplishments:
The first major goal of the OSM/VISTA has been to compile as much existing information about Letcher County's waterways as possible. This has included gathering scientific data, reports from government projects, and researching local histories. This is an ongoing process but significant progress has been made. Having this background knowledge makes it possible to work with schools and community groups to share this information with the people that live by the streams to encourage involvement in future projects.
As local people become involved with these projects the OSM/VISTA helps increase media presence and raise funds so that momentum is built from each effort. For example after some high school students sampled a creek in town and found high fecal counts, the OSM/VISTA spoke with their class and encouraged them to take their concerns to the local fiscal court. The students arranged a presentation and the OSM/VISTA wrote up a press release. This increased the awareness of their efforts and lead to the students being asked to meet with kids from an after school program hosted by a local community center. Currently the OSM/VISTA is fundraising to create possibilities for further efforts.
Partners and Contributors:
- Letcher County Water & Sewer District
- Letcher County Board of Tourism
- HOMES, Inc.
- Letcher County Central High School
- Cowan Community Center
