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)

Mason County, in northern Kentucky, is in the Outer Bluegrass Region. The Ohio River marks the northern boundary of the county and is the area of lowest elevations. The lowest point, the normal pool level of the Ohio River, is 485 feet. The valley flats of the Ohio are about 520 to 530 feet.

The terrain is rolling to hilly, with the area of lowest local relief being in the southern part of the county. The greatest local relief is in the vicinity of the Ohio Valley. Immediately north of Maysville the difference in elevation between ridgetops and the river is more than 400 feet.

Ridgetop elevations of 900 feet are common throughout the county. The highest elevation in the county, 1,000 feet, is found on a ridge 1.5 miles west of Mays Lick on the drainage divide between Licking River and the North Fork of the Licking River.

The city hall of Maysville, the county seat, has an elevation of 520 feet. Elevations of other communities are Dover, 520 feet; Germantown, on the Mason-Bracken County line, 960 feet; Helena, 830 feet; Lewisburg, 750 feet; Mays Lick, 898 feet; Minerva, 940 feet; Orangeburg, 761 feet; Sardis, 945 feet; and Washington, 900 feet.

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

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