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Buck Creek

Why the Conservancy Selected This SiteBuck Creek in Pulaski County
Buck Creek is one of Kentucky's outstanding natural resources, containing more than 30 species of freshwater mussels (nine of which are endangered or of state concern), 77 species of fish, and one endangered bat species.

Its ecosystem encompasses 188,472 acres in Puklaski, Lincoln and Rockcastle Counties. It is a tributary to the Upper Cumberland River Drainage and remains one of the more pristine streams in the region. The headwaters of Buck Creek begin near Halls Gap in Lincoln County, with tributaries originating in Rockcastle County. The watershed is also dissected by two ecoregions. The northern portion of the watershed lies in the Interior Low Plateau, while the southern portion extends into the Cumberland and Southern Ridge and Valley ecoregion, which is known for karst topography and underground streams.

Threats
Highly ranked threats include incompatible forestry practices, livestock production practices, crop production practices, invasive species, recreational vehicles and unimproved creek crossings.
                                                                                                           Buck Creek © Mike Strunk/KDFWR
Plants
There are no federally endangered or threatened plant species known in the Buck Creek watershed, but Western yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) may be considered globally rare. There is evidence that the Interior Low Plateaus populations of Cladrastis (mostly along mesic-submesic limestone cliffs) are distinct from central Appalachian populations (on steep mesic slopes); plants are scattered infrequently along the lower section of Buck Creek.

Southern brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia truncata) appears restricted to limestone bluffs and nearby glades along the western edge of the Highland Rim from southeastern Kentucky to northeastern Alabama.

Animals
Some of the rarer species in the area include:

  • Cumberland combshell (Epioblasma brevidens)
  • oyster mussel (E. capsaeformis)
  • little-wing pearly mussel (Pegias fibula)
  • Cumberland bean pearly mussel (Villosa trabalis)
  • Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)

Our Conservation Strategy
Our four key goals for Buck Creek are:

  • Provide for the long-term health of the highly diverse and unique aquatic communities, including endangered mussel and fish species of Buck Creek:
  • Provide for the long-term health of the cave systems located in the watershed:
  • Provide for the long-term health of terrestrial communities and rare species in the watershed.
  • Develop a sustainable farm economy within the Buck Creek Watershed to protect the rural character and unique natural qualities of the area.

What TNC Has Done/Is Doing

Buck Creek Watershed Riparian Restoration Project

The Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet Department for Natural Resources Kentucky Division of Conservation has provided the Buck Creek Watershed with a grant to be used for monitoring and installing best management practices (BMP).  This project is a 319 grant set up to target a high priority area within the Buck Creek watershed.  The implementation of this grant will be conducted in phases consisting of pre-BMP monitoring, BMP installation, post-BMP monitoring, and annual BMP performance and maintenance spot checks.  Partners involved: The Nature Conservancy / The Pulaski County Soil and Water Conservation District / Cumberland Environmental Group, LLC / Division of Conservation / Division of Water

 

  • Kentucky Division of Conservation's State Cost Share Program: Through the State Cost Share Program, the Kentucky Division of Conservation provided funds to install 10 animal waste storage facilities within the watershed.  These animal waste storage facilities collect animal waste, associated with dairy and beef livestock operations, keeping it from running off into the Buck Creek.
  • Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has provided the Buck Creek watershed with a grant to be used in the watershed to install best management practices.  Through the use of the Partnership for Wildlife Grant, we have restored / protected 1,540 feet of highly eroded streambank, fenced 1,670 feet of stream, and cleaned-up one sinkhole.  An additional 1,000 feet of streambank protection, and one heavy use area is scheduled to be installed next year.
  • Upper Cumberland Watershed Watch Program: Through a generous grant by the Upper Cumberland Water Watch program (which paid for lab processing fees) and sampling assistance from Natural Resources Conservation Service and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, we have been able to conduct water sampling in the Buck Creek Watershed.  During the last two years we have sampled 70 sites throughout the watershed, during the spring and fall, for such parameters as: fecal coliform, fecal strep, total organic carbon, ammonia, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature.  The data obtained from these events have provided us with much needed insight on major problems in the watershed, areas where we have needed to concentrate efforts to improve water quality and a method to measure success.

 Buck Creek Project is also a prime example of using Federal Farm Bill Programs to their maximum benefit.  Since the primary land use within the watershed is agricultural, many of the best management practices coincide with these programs.  Some of the successes we have had in the Buck Creek Watershed with Federal Farm Bill Program include:

  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): The Buck Creek Watershed was designated as an EQIP Priority Area during 2001 and 2002. This designation obligated $490,000 to install best management practices associated with livestock production within the watershed. To date 52 landowners have been involved with this program installing numerous best management practices in the Buck Creek Watershed.  

  • Fenced 54,185 feet (10.3 miles) of Buck Creek, excluding livestock from the stream, while also providing cost share on alternative water sources for participating farmers.

  • Restored / stabilized 3100 feet of streambank. 

  • Replanted 162.9 acres of riparian (streamside) buffers. 

  • Protected 136.9 acres bordering Buck Creek through Continuous Conservation Reserve Program.

  • Planted 544 acres of native warm season grasses.

Projects/Preserves/Places to Visit