For years, environmental advocates of Floyds Fork have highlighted the dangers imposed upon the Fork. They have consistently shown the science behind the consequences of adding acres of impervious surfaces, removing thousands of trees, and excavating earth close to streams. The results: elevated water temperature, raised nutrient load, and increased water opacity which leads to the death and destruction of the life contained within the stream.
Is any of this science ever refuted? No.
Is any of this science even discussed or argued? No.
Instead, residents are insinuatingly told, We got this. Don’t you worry your little heart. Leave it to us; we design, approve, supervise, or build these things (or represent those who do). We are the experts. You’re just a neighbor. What do you know?
But then those who live and play along Floyd’s Fork and its tributaries witness the impact to the streams and wonder, “What’s going on? It’s never been like this before.” Neighbors who interact with the water know that the creeks are disgusting.
Algae Blooms
The “experts” tell residents, It’s the yard fertilizers.
You mean yard fertilizers from the neighborhoods which you designed, approved, supervised, or built right up against the Fork, or its tributaries?
The “experts” tell residents: It’s the farmers.
But this land has historically been farmland, so why is it recently happening? Besides, many of the farms are turning into neighborhoods; and even some upstream farmers use gas-injected fertilizer which doesn’t run off into the waterways. It’s not the farmers.
Flooding and Siltation
Neighbors look around at new developments like this one and think, “How is this even possible? I thought you ‘had’ this.”
When neighbors approached the developer about this flooding of a brand-new neighborhood, the developer blamed MSD and responded, How can I be expected to plan for a 3″ rain?
Easily. Hire an expert. Oh, wait. They did.
Incredible amounts of dirt and debris go into gutters causing them to completely clog.
Where is all the dirt and debris going? “Direct to stream” just as the drainage gutter states, causing siltation–a fancy word used for dirty, unnatural water resembling chocolate milk.
“Experts’ ” response: It’s not us, it’s you
Neighbors are told not to worry. The experts have this. Neighbors are also expected to ignore what is seen… all the evidence, all the science, all the negative impacts happening… and are told one of four things:
- Louisville needs development.
- Louisville is an urban city. Everywhere.
- You are racist.
- You promote NIMBYism.
None of these accusations have anything to do with the actual environment or the science given or the evidence presented. “Experts” simply attack neighbors who have valid concerns with actual evidence.
In the end, residents are expected to watch the filth just pour into our streams.
Louisville Keep Your Fork is an environmental advocacy group educating residents and decision-makers regarding what is happening in the watershed.
Join the Louisville Keep Your Fork email list and join our Watershed News blog. If it is happening in the watershed, it matters to us all.
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