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)

Floyd County is located in the mountainous Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. The area is a completely dissected upland in which valleys and ridges occupy about equal amounts of land. Almost the only flat land in the county is found in the narrow valley flats along Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River and some of its tributaries.

Ridgetop elevations range from 1,200 to 1,300 feet in the northern part of the county to more than 2,000 feet in the southern part. Local reliefs of 600 feet are common, and differences in elevations between ridge crests and nearby valleys may be as great as 900 feet.

The highest elevation in Floyd County is 2,320 feet, in the extreme southern part of the county in the vicinity of the junction of Floyd, Knott, and Pike Counties. The lowest elevation is approximately 580 feet, at the point where Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River leaves the county. Dewey Lake, an impoundment on Johns Creek, has a normal pool elevation of 645 feet.

All the communities are located in the valleys. The elevation of Prestonsburg, the county seat, is 630 feet. Other elevations include Allen, 650 feet; Auxier, 629 feet; Betsy Lane, 671 feet; David, 680 feet; Drift, 684 feet; Dwale, 650 feet; Harold, 664 feet; Hi Hat, 815 feet; Lancer, 633 feet; Langley, 650 feet; Martin, 640 feet; McDowell, 707 feet; Wayland, 714 feet; and Wheelwright, 1,102 feet.

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

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