KRS 151.112: Planning process for management and development of water resources.

(1) The cabinet shall develop a comprehensive and systematic planning process for the

long-range management and orderly development of the Commonwealth's water

resources. The planning process shall generate over each biennium a plan for the

implementation of specific goals and management objectives for the cabinet to

achieve in meeting the Commonwealth's water needs. The biennial plan shall serve

as the basis for the cabinet's budgeting process in allocating resources to the state's

water resource programs. The planning process shall be developed to:

(a) Protect, conserve, develop, and utilize the water resource in a manner

consistent with the Commonwealth's duties for manageme nt of natural

resources, the public's right to clean water, and the preservation of the natural,

scenic, cultural, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment;

(b) Provide a coordinated framework for cooperation among federal, interstate,

state, and local government agencies in the planning and management of

water resources, in a manner consistent with KRS Chapter 147 and KRS

224.10-100(13);

(c) Be both anticipatory of future needs and reactive to current needs;

(d) Provide for public involvement in the establishment of the comprehensive and

systematic planning process, in plan development and implementation, and

the allocation and prioritizing of resources for water resource management

and development;

(e) Establish a process for the collection and co ordination of data regarding

surface water and groundwater availability and quality, including the presence

of point and nonpoint sources of pollution, instream flow information,

withdrawal and use information, an assessment of flood damage and storm

water management problems, and an identification and assessment of future

data needs; and

(f) Request technical assistance from any agency or organization the cabinet

deems necessary to carry out its duties as established in this chapter.

(2) The continuous planning process shall include goals and objectives for groundwater

and surface water quantity and quality management in order to assess the

effectiveness of current programs in addressing the comprehensive water needs of

the Commonwealth and to gauge the nee d for new or different programs to

recommend to the General Assembly for legislation.