Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Overview

Water Use

Topography of the County

Geology of the County

Groundwater Availability

Exploration for Groundwater

Water Quality

Maps and Data

Additional Reading

References Cited

Definitions of Geologic Terms

Rock Descriptions

Discussion from McGrain and Currens (1978)

Muhlenberg County is in the Western Kentucky Coal Field. It is a well-dissected upland area with ridgetop elevations ranging from 700 feet in the south to 500 feet in the north. The topography near the southern edge of the county is more rugged than in other parts of the area. Valley sides are steep, and some have nearly vertical cliffs. Local relief may be as great as 200 feet. The upland areas between the valleys may be nearly level. In the central and northern parts of the county, hills are not as steep, and the relief is not as great.

The Mud and Green Rivers mark the eastern boundary of Muhlenberg County, and Pond River marks the western boundary. All three are slow-flowing streams and have rather wide valleys. Elevations on the valley floors are generally between 380 and 390 feet. The lowest elevation in the county, 355 feet, is the point where the Pond River leaves the northwestern corner of the county. The Green River leaves the county at an elevation of about 365 feet.

The highest elevation in the county, 760 feet, is on a ridge about 1.5 miles west of Rosewood in the southern part of the county. A ridge at the eastern edge of Dunmore has an elevation of 730 feet, and Welburn Ridge near the southeastern corner of the county is 701 feet.

The elevation of Greenville, at the courthouse, is 538 feet. Other elevations include Beech Creek, at the railroad, 450 feet; Beechmont, 495 feet; Belton, 427 feet; Bremen, 460 feet; Browder, 425 feet; Central City, 430 feet; Cleaton, 450 feet; Depoy, 498 feet; Drakesboro, 440 feet; Dunmore, 589 feet; Graham, 460 feet; Luzerne, 470 feet; Martwick, 490 feet; Millport, 409 feet; Moorman, 421 feet; Paradise, 407 feet; Powderly, 450 feet; Rosewood, 602 feet; and Weir, 629 feet. The elevation of Lake Malone is 450 feet.

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

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