Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 50

stream, reduce the pollutant levels, and ensure protection of the watershed. There needs to be
emphasis placed on the use of "best management practices" (BMPs) for erosion prevention and
sediment control at construction sites. Natural vegetation zones along each side of the creek
should also be preserved.
Public park and open spaces in the Goose Creek watershed include:
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E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park
Hounz Lane Park
Anchorage Trail
Harrods Creek
Harrods Creek, which arises to the northeast in Oldham County, is designated as a Class
1 Wildlife Resource and Class 3 Fish Resource by the Kentucky Rivers Assessment.³ Several parks
owned by the City of Prospect are in the Harrods Creek watershed. Harrods Creek’s headwaters
are in Oldham County and the creek provides important wildlife habitat and recreational value
for canoeing for both counties. The Ohio River Bridges project, specifically the East End Bridge,
has had significant impact on the visual character of the area near the intersection of River Road
and the bridge and will likely have land use implications such as demand for additional
development in the area.
Only a very small portion of this watershed is within Jefferson County. The drainage
basin for Harrods Creek is approximately 92 square miles. The area is rapidly developing and
most of the development is commercial and residential. The area of impervious surfaces is
increasing, but a significant portion of this basin is still agricultural. In the past, there has been
only one sampling site in the Harrods Creek watershed, but an additional site has been added
starting in 1999.
Hite Creek, a tributary in this watershed, is on the State (303d) list for aquatic life and
recreational impairment. The Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) classifies streams based upon
their potential use, such as whether they may be used for recreational purposes, whether they
support aquatic life, etc. The 303d list identifies streams within Kentucky that do not meet their
designated use or partially fail to meet their designated use.
Nutrient levels in the stream are very high. Most of the nutrients originate from lawn
chemicals, agricultural chemicals, golf courses, septic tank seepage and small water quality
treatment centers. Dissolved oxygen levels are often low. Much of the oxygen reduction is the
result of nuisance levels of algae and higher water temperatures due to tree removal along
stream banks. There are also extremely high levels of siltation. Storm runoff from construction
sites, and agricultural and commercial development, have produced a degraded stream with
dramatically reduced habitat. Frequent violations of recreational standards for fecal coliforms
(one third of all samples) make the stream system unable to support recreational use.
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