LOUISVILLE, KY –  The Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District denied Scott County’s proposal to construct the Lytles Fork Reservoir because less environmentally damaging alternatives exist.

Among the other alternatives are the continued use of Royal Spring, the purchase of water from Frankfort or Kentucky American Water Company and implementation of water conservation measures. A combination of these alternatives is also a suitable alternative.

The proposal for the Lytles Fork Reservoir could have potentially impacted more than 61,000 feet of streams and 2.1 acres of wetlands.

“The Lytles Fork Reservoir project did not constitute the least environmentally damaging alternative available to provide Scott County with an adequate replacement water supply,” said Greg McKay, project manager

When the Corps finds an alternative that is ‘practicable’ meaning that the alternative is available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purpose, then a permit can’t be issued.

The Corps’ role in regulating and issuing or denying permit is to ensure laws – Section 404 of the Clean Water Act - are followed. The Code of Federal regulation outlines criteria for the Corps to use in evaluating permit requests. If an alternative meets three criteria: 1) it is ‘practicable,’ 2) the alternative has less adverse impacts on the aquatic environment, and 3) the alternative does not have other significant adverse environmental consequences, the permit request is to be denied.

Scott County had proposed to construct a new 300 acre reservoir supplying water from the proposed reservoir on Lytles Fork Creek near the community of Longlick to the water treatment plant in Georgetown, Ky., which is operated by the Georgetown Municipal Water and Sewer Service.

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