Report: Kentucky ranks sixth worst state for environmental protection—what that means for local wildlife

LEXINGTON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A recent report shows that the Bluegrass state is far from the cleanest.

Data collected from the non-profit organization SmileHub compared how each state performs in three main categories:

• Environmental protection
• Energy consumption and waste disposal
• Emissions and pollution contributions

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On that national overall ranking, Kentucky lands at the 45th spot, just beneath Oklahoma and slightly above North Dakota. SmileHub said “nearly half” of rivers and “more than one-third” of lakes in the US are “unfit for swimming, fishing, and drinking.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said on Wednesday that littering in the waterways of the Commonwealth isn’t only unpleasant but can draw invasive plants and animals into the area, wiping out native species. Per officials, “more than 100 aquatic invasive species have been identified in Kentucky, comprising non-native species introduced to the state from other parts of the U.S. or globally.”

The full SmileHub report on state environmental protection rankings, along with a detailed breakdown of the metrics and criteria, can be found here .

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