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OVERVIEW
Geography. The Rockhouse Creek
watershed covers northeastern Letcher County. The land is in the Eastern
Kentucky Coal Field physiographic region, characterized by mountainous terrain,
rapid surface runoff, and moderate rates of groundwater drainage. The watershed
is underlain by coals, sandstones, and shales: this geology is generally
conducive to productive wells, although water quality may be low for wells that
draw from coal layers.
Waterways. Rockhouse Creek empties into the North Fork Kentucky River
near Blackey. Among the many creeks that feed it are Razorblade Branch, Camp
Branch, Stampers Branch, Doty Creek, and Blair Branch.
Land and water use. Land in the watershed is nearly all rural and
wooded. Eight businesses and organizations hold permits for discharges into the
creeks. See tables for details.
Agency data assessment. Of two assessed creek segments in this
watershed, one does not support some or all of its designated uses, based on
biological and/or water-quality data. The other is threatened. A wide variety of
activities contribute to the impairment of the creek by pathogens, siltation,
and turbidity. See tables for details.
Watershed rankings. The ranking formula provides a preliminary
ranking by synthesizing a broad spectrum of watershed characteristics, current
conditions, and threats. This watershed ranks in the group with the highest need
for protection and/or restoration. This rating is for the watershed on average:
particular sites and particular waters within the watershed may vary widely. See
tables for details.
Volunteer data. No volunteer data were collected in this watershed in
1999.
TABLES
Click here to view tables for this watershed, in PDF format. These
tables include land-use characteristics, designated uses, stream assessments,
public water supply and water withdrawal sites, permitted discharge sites,
gaging and sampling sites, volunteer data, and values for the 35 indicators used
in calculating watershed rankings. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the
tables: Adobe
Systems will let you download a free
copy.)
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