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When the Bluegrass region of Kentucky was settled, early farmers found natural woodland pastures of open-grown trees shading grass and cane. The same trees that shaded the natural pastures remain with us today, many of them between three hundred and five hundred years old. The horse and livestock farms that make the Bluegrass famous are shaded by these ancient trees; some woodland pastures cover hundreds of acres. There are still many old trees in urban areas, parks, and backyards, remnants of woodland pastures. Natural woodland pastures are extremely rare, found only in the Bluegrass and Nashville Basin in North America, and in several European countries. Venerable Trees is a narrative of the history of these trees from before settlement to today. The origin of the woodland pasture habitat is analyzed, with particular emphasis on the role of drought and the vast herds of bison that were here in the 1700s. Although there are still thousands of ancient trees in the Bluegrass and Nashville Basin, they are disappearing, succumbing to old age, urbanization, and poor management. The present status of the trees is described, and recommendations made to ensure that woodland pastures of ancient trees will continue to characterize the Bluegrass and Nashville Basin long into the future.

Kentucky is regarded as one of the most ecologically diverse states in the nation, home to sprawling Appalachian forests, rolling green meadows, and the longest cave system in the world. None of these formations would be possible, however, without the lakes, rivers, and streams that have been shaping and nourishing the land for centuries. Water has played a pivotal role in determining Kentucky’s physical, cultural, and economic landscapes, and its management and preservation have recently become a significant point of interest for the state’s government and citizens. In Water in Kentucky: Shaping Landscapes, People, and Communities, editors Brian D. Lee, Daniel I. Carey, and Alice L. Jones will assemble a team of contributors from various disciplines to explore how water has defined regions across the Commonwealth. They propose to present an overview of Kentucky’s watershed and landscapes as well as highlight the importance of the water sources during the settlement and development of Kentucky. They will examine how water is regarded across the state today, discussing a variety of issues such as rural water and wastewater issues, the effect of the Martin County Coal Waste Spill on water resources, erosion and sediment control, Kentucky River’s lock and dam system, and the creation of the Land between the Lakes. The editors and contributors will also investigate how water is regulated across the state, exploring Kentucky’s water administrations, activism for preservation of water sources, and advocacy for public awareness. Finally, they will address future challenges, focusing on emerging technologies and management approaches that will likely determine the next chapters in Kentucky’s history. Water in Kentucky will illuminate the ways in which water has affected the lives of Kentuckians since the state’s settlement, exploring the complex relationship between humans, landscapes, and waterways. Illustrated with photographs, maps, and charts, the volume offers a multi-faceted look at how water has shaped the Bluegrass State. Through detailed analysis and case studies, the editors and contributors will provide scholars and general readers alike with an important volume that not only takes a look at Kentucky’s past, but asks important questions about its future.