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)

Lincoln County, in central Kentucky, includes parts of both the Outer Bluegrass and Mississippian Plateaus Regions. Muldraugh Hill (Highland Rim Escarpment), which crosses the county south of a line connecting Crab Orchard, Stanford, and Hustonville, is the most conspicuous topographic feature. A similar upland area is present northwest of Moreland in the northwestern corner of the county. This escarpment divides the Outer Bluegrass Region of northern Lincoln County from the Mississippian Plateaus in the south.

The topography of the northern part of the county is slightly rolling to hilly. Elevations of 1,000 feet or greater are found on the highest hills and ridges in this area. Local relief is commonly 100 to 150 feet. The lowest elevation in the county is approximately 760 feet, at the point where Dix River leaves the northern tip of the county.

The highest elevations and the sites of greatest local relief are along Muldraugh Hill. The highest point in the county, 1,440 feet, is a knob adjacent to the Lincoln-Casey County line, approximately 3 miles northwest of Moreland. Elevations along the escarpment are commonly 300 feet above the adjacent Bluegrass Region.

The edge of the escarpment is highly dissected; however, to the south, areas of flat land increase, and broad tablelands are common. Elevations decline from 1,300 feet or more on the edge of the escarpment to 1,100 to 1,200 feet in the southern part of the county. Buck and Crab Orchard Creeks in the southeastern part of the county occupy valleys that appear much too wide for their streams.

The elevation of Stanford, the county seat, is 946 feet. Other elevations are Chicken Bristle, 921 feet; Crab Orchard, 952 feet; Halls Gap, 1,390 feet; Hustonville, 974 feet; McKinney, 1,012 feet; Moreland, 1,089 feet; and Waynesburg, 1,210 feet. The spillway elevation of Stanford Reservoir is 1,060 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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