Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Overview

Water Use

Topography of the County

Geology of the County

Groundwater Availability

Exploration for Groundwater

Karst

Water Quality

Maps and Data

Additional Reading

References Cited

Definitions of Geologic Terms

Rock Descriptions

Discussion from McGrain and Currens (1978)

Grayson County occupies an upland area that includes parts of the Mississippian Plateaus Region west of the Dripping Springs Escarpment and the eastern edge of the Western Kentucky Coal Field. Much of the area is characterized by flat-topped, sandstone-capped ridges. This flat appearance is broken by occasional knobs and ridges rising above the general plateau level and valleys incised 150 to 200 feet into the upland. Karst features such as sinking streams, sinkholes, and springs are present locally in the eastern part of the county.

The highest elevations are found in the eastern part of the county, and the elevations of the upland ridges gradually decline to the west. The highest point in the county is on Buzzard Ridge, about 3 1/2 miles southwest of Millerstown, where an elevation of 963 feet is recorded. Slopes between streams and the adjacent plateau in the headwaters areas are generally steep, in some places precipitous, reflecting resistant rock units capping the uplands.

The Rough River and its tributaries form the northern boundary of Grayson County. The lowest elevation is approximately 395 feet, at the point where the Rough River leaves the county. Rough River Lake, a flood-control facility on the Rough River, has a normal pool elevation of 495 feet and a flood-pool elevation of 524 feet.

Nolin Lake on the Nolin River marks part of the southern border of the county. It has a normal pool elevation of 515 feet and a flood-pool elevation of 560 feet. Leitchfield, the county seat, has an elevation at the courthouse of approximately 750 feet. The elevations of other communities are Big Clifty, 752 feet; Caneyville, 490 feet; Clarkson, 730 feet; Millerstown, 589 feet; Millwood, 673 feet; Peonia, 778 feet; Shrewsbury, 660 feet; and Spring Lick, 460 feet.

The 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps that cover Grayson County are shown, by name and by index code (Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet) on the index map.

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