A dense Kentucky Division of Water report has dredged up an increased number of polluted state streams.

It gives water quality assessments for surface waters of Kentucky's major river basins - streams, lakes and reservoirs - in response to the federal Clean Water Act, which requires states to assess and biannually report water quality conditions to Congress.

Impaired waters - those not beneficial to aquatic life - total 3,741 miles of Kentucky streams. That's a 741-mile increase in the last two years, according to the report, which ominously states that E. coli bacteria could exist in 2,147 miles of Kentucky streams.

However, the agency cautions that the higher numbers are primarily due to better monitoring - and shouldn't be interpreted as a decrease in water quality.

Gary Larimore, director of the Kentucky Rural Water Association in Bowling Green, said the report is probably the most comprehensive in state history. Still, the amount of waterways labeled “impaired” was a little surprising to him, considering the multitude of environmental committees now working to improve water quality.

“I don't know anywhere in the state where the water quality is getting worse,” Larimore said.

A considerable number of southcentral Kentucky streams were cited as impaired.

In Logan County, Spa Lake and Pleasant Grove Creek into the Red River were cited as polluted, along with Town Branch and Wolf Lick Creek into the Mud River. Parts of the Red River into the Cumberland River are listed for Logan and Simpson counties. Portions of the Mud River and Muddy Creek into the Green River are included for Logan and Butler counties.

In Warren County, Salt Lick Creek into the Gasper River made the list. Parts of West Fork Drakes Creek into Drakes Creek are included for Warren and Simpson. The report also cites South Fork Beaver Creek into Beaver Creek in Barren County and the Barren River Reservoir is listed in Allen County.

Suspected pollution sources are given for each entry. Agricultural runoff was identified as the main pollution culprit in Kentucky, affecting 2,850 miles of streams, with mining coming in second, accounting for 1,520 miles.

Jack Stickney, a source-water specialist for the rural water association, said public education is key to reducing water pollution.

He'd like to see decreased erosion in riparian zones - areas ranging from 10 to 50 feet of streams - where sedimentation is often spilled by cattle roaming around. Malfunctioning septic systems and runoff caused by agricultural and construction practices are major concerns to environmental committees he works with to combat pollution at various waterways.

Although the committees - also called stakeholder groups - have no regulatory power; they exist nationwide and are composed of people who proactively help identify possible contamination to drinking water sources. Members include farmers, health department workers and elected officials.

“It's an exciting (field) to be working in right now,” Stickney said.

Larimore said he and Stickney, who've each monitored water quality for more than 20 years, have seen remarkable cleanup progress in that span, coupled with better water monitoring and treatment capabilities.

He sees the report as a good baseline from which to build in the next decade.

“In 10 years, we're going to look back and see significant improvement,” Larimore said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this article.