Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Overview

Water Use

Topography of the County

Geology of the County

Groundwater Availability

Exploration for Groundwater

Mined-Out Areas as Sources of Water

Water Quality

Maps and Data

Additional Reading

References Cited

Definitions of Geologic Terms

Rock Descriptions

Discussion from McGrain and Currens (1978)

Johnson County is in the Eastern Kentucky coal field. The area is mountainous, and local reliefs of 400 to 500 feet prevail over most of the county. The area is well dissected, and the only flat areas are along the valleys of the major streams. Rugged, rocky cliffs line portions of the valleysof Paint and Little Paint Creeks. Upland elevations in excess of 1,000 feet are found in all parts of the county, and ridgetop elevations of 1,200 to 1,400 feet are common. Stuffley Knob, about 2 miles south-southeast of Oil Springs, is the highest point in the county with an elevation of 1,508 feet.

Levisa Fork of Big Sandy River crosses the east-central part of the county, and the lowest elevations in the county are found here. The valley floor is 620 to 630 feet. The lowest point, approximately 550 feet, is the level of Levisa Fork where it leaves the county.

The elevation of Paintsville, the county seat, is about 620 feet. Elevations at other communities are Flat Gap, 815 feet; Offutt, 620 feet; Oil Springs, 843 feet; Redbush, 811 feet; Sitka, 700 feet; Staffordsville, 628 feet; and West Van Lear, 622 feet.

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

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