Bioregions of Kentucky

Bioregions are used by the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) as the regional classification for setting expectations for biological integrity as it relates to aquatic life uses. Bioregions are similar to and share many boundaries with Level III and IV ecoregions developed by USEPA but are aggregated or divided base on similarities in aquatic communities. Additionally there are subdivisions accounting for river drainage boundaries important in the distribution of fish species. This map depicts the generalized bioregion boundaries. A related map, DOW Bioregions of Kentucky (HUC12) depicts KDOW's assignment of individual HUC12 watersheds to bioregions and identifies HUC12 watersheds that span bioregion boundaries and may exhibit characteristics of more than one bioregion