Posted on August 9, 2016
By Charles Mason, BG Daily News
The recent appointment of John Dix to the new Kentucky Water Resources Board by Gov. Matt Bevin pleased Gary Larimore of the Kentucky Rural Water Association.
“He’s very, very well qualified,” Larimore said.
Dix is general manager of the Warren County Water District, the Butler County Water System and the Simpson County Water District. The Kentucky Rural Water Association has offices in Bowling Green.
Dix’s term ends July 15, 2018. He is the only representative on the 11-member panel that represents rural water systems.
“It’s a great honor,” Dix said. The panel recently held its first meeting, which was attended by state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and state Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely.
Dix said the board, which was created under House Bill 529, will look at many aspects of water conservation, drought response and issues involving Kentucky’s public waterways.
“We will be making recommendations to the governor and his staff,” Dix said.
The group will be working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Kentucky Mesonet based at Western Kentucky University.
Larimore and Dix agreed that amid of one of Kentucky’s wettest summers, work needs to continue on Kentucky drought response protocols for when the rains lessen and the moisture starts to evaporate from the ground.
Dix said the Kentucky Mesonet soil moisture monitoring processes help to provide much-needed data for the state board to look at overall soil conditions.
Of local concern to Dix is the future of the Rochester Dam on the Green River. The timber and rock dam was built in 1838 and is a key structure in the rural water systems serving Butler, Ohio and Muhlenberg counties. Dix is secretary of the Rochester Dam Regional Water Commission.
The new state board will assist the Energy and Environmental Cabinet in conducting research and developing recommendations to enhance the quality of water resources accessible for agricultural production
Data will be sought by the state board from the Kentucky Geological Survey, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Kentucky Water Resources Institute, the Interagency Technical Advisory Committee on Groundwater and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and other sources.
Larimore and Dix agreed Kentucky has plentiful public water systems and isn’t undergoing the water fights occurring in the West.
“We’ve been blessed with a quality and quantity of water,” Larimore said. “Through the new board we hope to create more of an awareness on water issues.”
Dix said the water board is a proactive step by Kentucky state officials. Making sure water resources continue to drive Kentucky’s economy and tourism is a key goal of the new board.
“Our rivers have become a great tourism vehicle,” Dix said. “It is leading to tourism attractions along the rivers,” he said. SOURCE: Data will be sought by the state board from the Kentucky Geological Survey, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Kentucky Water Resources Institute, the Interagency Technical Advisory Committee on Groundwater and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and other sources.
Larimore and Dix agreed Kentucky has plentiful public water systems and isn’t undergoing the water fights occurring in the West.
“We’ve been blessed with a quality and quantity of water,” Larimore said. “Through the new board we hope to create more of an awareness on water issues.”
Dix said the water board is a proactive step by Kentucky state officials. Making sure water resources continue to drive Kentucky’s economy and tourism is a key goal of the new board.
“Our rivers have become a great tourism vehicle,” Dix said. “It is leading to tourism attractions along the rivers,” he said.
Source: BG DailyNews
