In 2015, the Foundation was awarded an EPA 319(h) grant from the Kentucky Division of Water to develop a watershed plan for the Damon Creek watershed in Calloway County, determining potential sources of E. coli in the watershed, and best management practices that could be implemented to address these sources. Data collected for this project show the main issues in the watershed relate to E. coli, with the highest concentrations being observed at the two most downstream sites. Data also show that the primary contributor of E. coli in the watershed is ruminant related, although there are some human contributions. The Damon Creek Watershed Plan was approved by the Kentucky Division of Water and the EPA in 2019. The watershed coordinator is now actively working with landowners in the watershed to implement practices needed to reduce bacteria in the watershed.

In 2018, the Foundation, through our Four Rivers Watershed Watch program, conducted an extensive monitoring program in the Clayton Creek watershed in Calloway County to better define the sources of E. coli in this watershed, and best management practices that could be implemented to address these sources. This plan is under development, and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2020. 

In 2019, the Foundation, through our Four Rivers Watershed Watch program with assistance from the City of Murray, conducted an extensive monitoring program in the Bee Creek watershed in Calloway County to better define the sources of E. coli in this watershed, and best management practices that could be implemented to address these sources. This plan is under development, and is expected to be completed by 2026. 

The Foundation assisted the Friends of Clarks River NWR with the development watershed plan for Chestnut Creek that was completed in 2015. This plan identifies several sources of water quality impairments, including the local wastewater treatment plant as a source of E. coli and nitrogen exceedances, failing septic systems as a source of E. coli, and agriculture as a source of nutrient and sediment exceedances.  The main source of problems for warm water aquatic habitat is expected to be a modified urban stream system, i.e. increased imperviousness and altered hydrology, including disconnections from groundwater.