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OVERVIEW
Geography. The White Oak Creek
watershed is in north-central Estill County. The land is in the Knobs
physiographic region, characterized by hilly terrain, very rapid surface runoff,
and very slow groundwater drainage. In level parts of the Knobs, runoff and
groundwater drainage are slow. The watershed lies partly above fractured shales
through which groundwater can easily move but which stores very little water.
Other sections of the watershed lie over easily weathered clay shales that store
water but allow little groundwater flow. Interbedded clay shales and siltstones
make up the remainder of the area.
Waterways. White Oak Creek empties into the Kentucky River northwest
of Irvine. Among the creeks that feed it are Sweet Lick Branch, Masters Creek,
and Dry Branch.
Land and water use. Land in the watershed is about 70% rural and
wooded and about 25% agricultural. Three businesses and 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 the lowest 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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