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OVERVIEW
Geography. The Sturgeon Creek
watershed covers eastern Jackson County, western Owsley County, and southern Lee
County. The land is in the escarpment and plateau areas of the Eastern Kentucky
Coal Field physiographic region, characterized by rolling to hilly terrain,
medium to very rapid surface runoff, and slow to medium 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. Parts of the watershed lie over easily
weathered clay shales that store water but allow little groundwater flow.
Waterways. Sturgeon Creek empties into the Kentucky River at
Heidelberg. Among the creeks that feed it are Herd Fork, Brushy Creek, Wild Dog
Creek, Granny Dismal Creek, Upper Sinking Creek, Grassy Fork, Rowlette Branch,
Little Sturgeon Creek, Elk Lick, and Duck Branch.
Land and water use. Land in the watershed is three-fourths rural and
wooded and about 20% agricultural. No businesses or organizations hold permits
for discharges into the creeks. See tables for details.
Agency data assessment. The assessed creek segments in this watershed
fully support their designated uses, based on biological and/or water-quality
data. 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 a moderate 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. Phosphorus levels at Sturgeon Creek were elevated
enough to cause potential nutrient enrichment problems (0.1 mg/L). Data also
show elevated chromium.
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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