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)

Mercer County is in the Bluegrass Region of central Kentucky. The topography is gently rolling to hilly, with the steepest slopes and greatest local relief being in the eastern edge of the county near the deeply incised valleys of the Dix and Kentucky Rivers.

The Kentucky River, Dix River, and Herrington Lake, an impoundment on Dix River, mark the eastern boundary of the county. The spillway elevation of Herrington Lake is 750 feet. The Kentucky River enters Mercer County above Lock No. 7 at an elevation of 514 feet and leaves the county below Lock No. 6 at 483 feet, the lowest elevation in the county. At many places the difference in elevation between the river and the adjacent uplands is 350 to 400 feet.

The area of lowest local relief is in the vicinity of Harrodsburg. Ridgetop elevations are between 900 and 950 feet. Locally, fairly large areas of nearly flat land are present at these elevations. Some sinkhole topography is present on this upland surface, but it does not dominate the landscape. The highest point in Mercer County, 1,000 feet, is on a ridge just south of Kentucky 152 about 2.5 miles east of the center of Harrodsburg.

The area west of Salt River is hilly. Little flat land is present, except along the valleys of the Chaplin and Salt Rivers. Ridgetop elevations generally range between 850 and 900 feet, and the local relief is commonly 100 to 150 feet.

The elevation of Harrodsburg, the county seat, in the center of the city, is 850 feet. Other elevations are Bohon, 897 feet; Bondsville, 779 feet; Burgin, 893 feet; Cornishville, 733 feet; Mayo, 900 feet; Nevada, 821 feet; Oregon, 523 feet; Salvisa, 785 feet; and Shakertown, 930 feet. The Southern Railroad bridge (High Bridge) over the Kentucky River near Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill is at an elevation of 795 feet, 281 feet above the river.

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

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