Groundwater Resources of Menifee County, Kentucky

Topography

Discussion from McGrain and Currens (1978)

Menifee County is at the western edge of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. It is an upland area well dissected by normal stream drainage. The terrain in the northern and western parts of the county is characterized by cliff-lined ridges. In the southeastern part of the county, cliffs are found in the bottoms or midpoints of the valley walls at lower elevations.

Ridgetop elevations of 1,100 to 1,300 feet are common over most of the county. The ridges are commonly narrow, but may be almost flat topped, particularly in the northwestern half of the county. The highest elevation in the county, 1,428 feet, is a flat-topped ridge on the drainage divide between the Kentucky and Licking Rivers about 3/4 mile north-northeast of Fagan. Isolated knobs on the Menifee-Montgomery and Menifee-Bath County lines have elevations in excess of 1,300 feet.

Valleys are cut 100 to 500 feet below the uplands. The picturesque valley of Red River, which marks part of the southern boundary of the county, is 200 to 500 feet deep. The upper part of the valley wall is rimmed with nearly vertical cliffs. The elevation of Red River, where it leaves the county, is approximately 670 feet, the lowest point in the county.

Cave Run Lake, a flood-control facility, impounds waters of Licking River. Normal pool level is 730 feet, and the maximum flood pool (spillway elevation) is 765 feet.

The elevation of Frenchburg, the county seat, is 870 feet. Elevations at other communities are Denniston, 1,105 feet; Fagan, 1,192 feet; Means, 850 feet; Pomeroyton, 1,050 feet; Scranton, 734 feet; and Sudith, 750 feet.

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

Previous--Next--Back to "Groundwater Resources in Kentucky"