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)

Clark County is located in central Kentucky, straddling the border between the Inner and Outer Bluegrass Regions. The topography ranges from rolling to hilly. The most conspicuous features are the entrenched valleys of the Kentucky and Red Rivers, which mark the southern boundary. The northeastern portion of the county is drained by tributaries of Licking River, and highest elevations in the county are found, on the drainage divide between the Kentucky and Licking Rivers.

The highest elevation, 1,120 feet, is on a ridge adjacent to Kentucky Highway 15 about midway between Winchester and Pilot View. Elevations in excess of 1,000 feet are found in several parts of the county.The lowest elevation is the Kentucky River at the junction of Clark, Fayette, and Madison Counties. At this point normal pool level of the river is 549 feet. The Kentucky River at Lock 10 below Ford has a normal pool elevation of 566 feet upstream from the dam and 549 feet below the dam. The Kentucky River is entrenched 300 to 400 feet below the upland, and Red River is entrenched 200 to 300 feet. Bold limestone bluffs are common along the Kentucky River.

Old Indian Field is a broad, flat area developed on relatively resistant rock between Upper Howard and Lulbegrud Creeks in the eastern part of the county. Elevations of the broad flats are generally between 780 and 800 feet. Marsha Bottom, a horseshoe-shaped flat area, is an abandoned meander loop of Red River near its junction with the Kentucky River.

Elevation of Winchester, at the courthouse, is 960 feet; Winchester Reservoir, 859 feet at the upper reservoir, and 846 feet at the lower reservoir; Becknerville, 938 feet; Ford, 622 feet; Indian Fields, 745 feet; and Kiddville, 829 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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