Kentucky’s waterways sustain our communities, environment, and economy. Senate Bill 89 would weaken vital protections for our rivers, streams, and groundwater by removing critical protections for upstream reaches and for groundwater, which have long been protected under state law.
SB 89 is pending in the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee and scheduled to be heard Februaty 12! Now is the time to act. Tell your legislators and senate committee members to reject SB89 and stand up for the right to clean water in Kentucky. Make your voice heard before it’s too late!
By narrowing the definition of “waters of the Commonwealth” to remove all waters that are not “navigable waters” under the federal Clean Water Act, SB89 will end protections for thousands of miles of headwater ephemeral streams that are critical for slowing floodwaters, filtering pollutants, and supporting aquatic ecosystems. Groundwater, which is the source of drinking water for nearly 2 million Kentuckians and is used by our farmers for irrigation and farmstead uses, would no longer be protected from water pollution in Kentucky. Downstream rivers and lakes will suffer from more pollution, limiting recreation, damaging fish and wildlife, and lowering water quality.
This bill puts our drinking water and natural resources at risk, increasing treatment costs for city and county water systems and the costs of pollution controls for permitted industries downstream. We ALL live downstream, and what happens upstream impacts us all. Raise your voice today so that Kentucky’s legislators do NOT roll back safeguards that protect clean water for future generations.
What you can do:
Make a call.
The Kentucky Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 allows you to leave a message for all legislators. Keep it short and clear—say your name, where you live, and that you oppose SB89 because it puts Kentucky’s water at risk.
Send a letter or Email
Sample language you can use to send note or email:
"I am writing to urge you to oppose SB89 and protect all of Kentucky’s waters and waterways. Narrowing what are protected “waters of the Commonwealth” will strip headwater streams and groundwater from protections against pollution. Downstream water quality will be lowered, resulting in higher costs for water systems and permitted industries. Fisheries and recreation could be impacted, and nearly 2 million Kentuckians that rely on groundwater for their water source will lose protections against loss, damage, and pollution."
We ALL live downstream. What happens upstream impacts us all, and we cannot afford to roll back these essential protections. Kentucky’s water is too important to risk. Please vote NO on SB89 and support policies that strengthen, not weaken, our right to clean water.
Spread the word.The more people who speak up, the stronger our impact. After taking action, share this campaign with your friends, family, and community using the tools on this page.