Long-Term Monitoring Program

The Watershed Studies Institute maintains several long-term databases. Primary databases are summarized below. Data are made available to scientists and students interested in reservoir and ecosystem phenomena. For further information, contact Dr. Howard H. Whiteman, Director, Watershed Studies Institute, Hancock Biological Station, 561 Emma Drive, Murray, KY 42071 or call (270) 474-2272.

THE KENTUCKY LAKE LONG-TERM MONITORING PROGRAM

Begun in July 1988, the long-term monitoring program encompasses 12 primary sites and a number of embayments on the lower 30 km of Kentucky Lake. Monitoring sites have been selected so that both the mainstem and shallower embayments are sampled. Primary monitoring occurs at 16 day intervals coinciding with the overpass of the LandSat TM satellite. Objectives of the monitoring program include documentation of long-term changes, spatial variability in water quality, and integration of field observations with remotely sensed data. Physicochemical parameters in the database include Specific Conductance, Total Nitrogen, Oxidation/Reduction Potential (ORP), Hydrolab/Grant YSI Profiles, pH Dissolved Oxygen, Phytoplankton, Alkalinity, Phosphate (Ortho) P, Light and Euphotic Depth, Turbidity, Phosphorus (total), Primary Production (14C), Chloride, Silica, Chlorophyll, Lake Elevation and Discharge, Ammonia, Sulfate, Nitrate, Conductivity, Secchi depth, etc.

Click on Image to Enlarge  Click Here For Interactive Data Request Form

NADP SITE KENTUCKY 99

     The Institute in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Authority operates the National Atmospheric Deposition Program site KY99 located in the Land-Between-the-Lakes National Recreation Area.
Click here for further information on this site.

LEDBETTER AND PANTHER WATERSHEDS

     Ledbetter Creek and its embayment (an agricultural/rural watershed) and Panther Creek and its embayment (a pristine/forested watershed) have been monitored since 1995. In addition to the physicochemical parameters listed under the Kentucky Lake monitoring program, data are available on discharge, hyporheic chemistry, benthos, and algae.

THE LAKE BARKLEY DATABASE

     Basic physicochemical data are available for 12 sites in the Kentucky portion of Lake Barkley, including sites on the Little River and Eddy Creek.

ZOOPLANKTON DATABASE

     Begun in July 1988, the long-term zooplankton monitoring program encompasses 16 primary sites on the lower 30 km of Kentucky Lake. Monitoring sites have been selected so that both the mainstem and shallower embayments are sampled. Primary monitoring occurs at 16 day intervals coinciding with the overpass of the LandSat TM satellite. All samples have been archived.

THE KENTUCKY LAKE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

     The KLGIS is available in ArcInfo or ArcView and contains 12 major information layers, many of which contain multiple layers. Each layer is available for the study area of Kentucky Dam to Paris Landing. The layers include Archaeology, Bathymetry, Cultural Features, Digital Elevation Models, Drainage Basins, Groundwater, Hydrography, Geology, Land Cover, Soils, Water Quality Data, Wetlands. Separate GIS files are available for the Ledbetter Creek and Panther Creek watersheds. Click here for further information on the KLGIS.

KENTUCKY MESONET

The Kentucky Mesonet is a high-density, mesoscale network of automated environmental monitoring stations currently being developed across the commonwealth. Funding for the Mesonet was secured by U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell through an earmark to the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University.
Kentucky Mesonet data can be accessed here.