Interview with Lindell Ormsbee, November 30, 2006

Interview Summary

This interview with Dr. Lindell Ormsbee, director of the Water Resources Research Institute (KWRRI) at the University of Kentucky, begins with an overview of his childhood. Growing up as the son of an U.S. Army chaplain, Ormbee's childhood was filled with frequent moves, including one to the country of Panama, where he spent the fifth through seventh grade. His experiences in Panama led him to pursue a degree in civil engineering, specializing in hydrology, from the University of Kentucky, a subsequent master's degree from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D from Purdue University. Ormsbee then discusses his impressions of Eastern Kentucky in the 1980s, recalling the illegal dumps and waste water management issues that plagued the region. He then talks about the history of the Water Resources Institute Center at the University of Kentucky, as well as how it receives funding. Next, Ormsbee talks about the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which was found to be leaking radioactive contamination into the drinking water in the early 1980s. As a result, several agencies were created to monitor environmental toxins in drinking water. Ormsbee then goes on to talk about the importance of water quality in Eastern Kentucky, explaining that many of the state's headwaters originate in this region, thus pollution of those waterways affects the water supply in the rest of the state. Next, Ormsbee explains the major sources of water pollution in Eastern Kentucky and discusses the methods used to treat it. He talks about what a pathogen is, as well the designated use standards which dictate the acceptable number of pathogens in a water source according to its use. He then explains state efforts to improve water pollution in the state of Kentucky. Ormsbee also talks about the causes of this pollution, such as mining and urbanization.
Finally, the interviews ends with Ormsbee discussing his involvement in Eastern Kentucky PRIDE, which began in 1997 when he was working on the watershed management framework process. He then talks about the collaboration between Eastern Kentucky PRIDE and the Water Resources Research Institute (KWRRI). Ormsbee also talks about the trends he?s seen since caused by the efforts of Eastern Kentucky Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE).

Interview Keyword

Directors Environmentalism Water pollution Water quality Pollution Environmentalists Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment (PRIDE)

Interview LC Subject

Environmentalism. Environmentalism--History. Environmentalism--United States. Environmentalism--United States--History. Environmentalists. Water conservation. Kentucky

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.