Geomorphic Characteristics of Streams in the Bluegrass Physiographic Region of Kentucky
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Project Final Report for A Grant Awarded Through the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Program Cooperative Agreement #C9994861-00 under the Geomorphic Characteristics Section 319(h) Kentucky Nonpoint Source Implementation of Streams in the Bluegrass Grant Workplan “Stream Geomorphic Bankfull Regional Physiographic Region Curves—Streams of the Green/Tradewater River Basin Management Unit” of Kentucky Kentucky Division of Water NPS 00-10 MOA M-02173863 and PO2 0600000585 February 1, 2001 to November 1, 2007 Arthur C. Parola, Jr. William S. Vesely Michael A. Croasdaile Chandra Hansen of The Stream Institute Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky and Margaret Swisher Jones Kentucky Division of Water Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet Frankfort, Kentucky The Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC) and the University of Louisville Re- search Foundation, Inc., (a KRS164A.610 corporation) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability. The EPPC and the University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc., will provide, on request, reasonable accommodations including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in all services, programs and activities. To request materials in an alternative format, contact the Kentucky Division of Water, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 or call (502) 564-3410 or contact the Univer- sity of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc. Funding for this project was provided in part by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) through the Kentucky Division of Water, Nonpoint Source Section, to the University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc., as authorized by the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987, §319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant #C9994861-00. Mention of trade names or com- mercial products, if any, does not constitute endorsement. This document was printed on recycled paper. Acknowledgements Arthur C. Parola, Jr., Ph.D., Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Louisville and Director of the Stream Institute (ULSI), was the principal investigator for this project. Margi Swisher Jones, Technical Advisor for the Kentucky Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program, Kentucky Division of Water, provided project oversight. William S. Vesely, ULSI Research Project Engineer, directed the collection and analysis of stream gaug- ing and geomorphic data and contributed to the writing of the report. Michael A. Croasdaile, Ph.D., ULSI Post-Doctoral Research Associate, collected field data and contrib- uted to the writing of the report. Chandra Hansen, ULSI Research Technical Writer, contributed to the writing of the report and edited the final report. Anna Wood-Curini, Ph.D., former CEE Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, and Kevin Skinner, Ph.D., for- mer visiting scientist from the University of Nottingham, collected stream gauge and geomorphic data. D. Joseph Hagerty, Ph.D., Professor of CEE, assisted with field investigations and geologic descriptions. Mark N. French, Ph.D., Ph.D., Professor of CEE, guided flood-frequency analysis of gauging stations. Nageshwar R. Bhaskar, Ph.D., Professor of CEE, provided valuable advice regarding regression analysis. Brian Matherly, former ULSI Research Technologist, collected geomorphic data. David K. Thaemert, M.S., ULSI Research Technologist Senior, provided GIS mapping. Dana S. Kahn Jackman, M.S., ULSI Program Coordinator, prepared Appendix A and Table C.2. Several CEE students contributed to data collection, research, and analysis. Adam Connelly completed flood-frequency analysis of gauging stations; he was assisted by Xiaoqiang Xu. Clayton C. Mastin assisted with data collection, data analysis, and sieving. Jeffrey T. Schuchter assisted with data col- lection and sieving. James Hilliard assisted with data collection, sieving, and historical research. Benjamin D. Mater assisted with data collection. Laura Pigion assisted with sieving and historical research. Benjamin M. Jones assisted with sieving. The Kentucky Water Science Center of the US Geological Survey (USGS) made possible the use of gauge data in this project. Michael S. Griffin, Assistant Director, granted access to the stations and generously provided data not available online. Gary R. Martin, Hydrologist, explained the methods employed by the USGS to determine contributing drainage areas for streams in karst topography. Data from the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) were used throughout the report. Correspondence with KGS personnel was also informative. James C. Currens, M.S., KGS Hydrogeologist, reviewed and discussed the stratigraphic information provided in Appendix C. William M. Andrews, Jr., Ph.D, P.G., KGS Geologist, shared and discussed recent mapping of Kentucky physiographic regions by KGS. The Kentucky Historical Society, the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and the Filson Historical Society were valuable sources of historical information. iii Contents List of Figures and Tables........................................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... ix 1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background...................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Project Purpose and Scope............................................................................................................2 2 The Bluegrass Physiographic Region..................................................................................................5 2.1 Geology and Physiography...........................................................................................................5 2.2 Land-Use History........................................................................................................................12 2.3 Channel Response and Evolution ...............................................................................................18 3 Measurement and Analysis Methods ................................................................................................23 3.1 Site Selection..............................................................................................................................23 3.2 Data Collection...........................................................................................................................29 3.3 Data Analysis..............................................................................................................................33 4 Geomorphic and Bankfull Characteristics of Bluegrass Channels ................................................39 4.1 Bankfull Regional Curves...........................................................................................................39 4.2 Bankfull Discharge Recurrence Interval.....................................................................................43 4.3 Geomorphic Characteristics of Bluegrass Channels...................................................................45 5 Application of Bankfull Regional Relations .....................................................................................53 References ...................................................................................................................................................55 Appendices..................................................................................................................................................61 A .....................................................................................................................................................63 B ......................................................................................................................................................65 C Bluegrass Lithostratigraphy........................................................................................................75 D History of Bluegrass Land Use...................................................................................................79 E Bluegrass Data..........................................................................................................................103 v Figures and Tables FIGURES Figure 2.1 (a) Generalized geologic map of Kentucky (after McGrain 1983:12). (b) Physiographic map of Kentucky (KGS 1980)................................................................... 6 Figure 2.2 Generalized carbonate areas and surficial karst development in Kentucky (from Craw- ford and Webster 1986). .........................................................................................................8 Figure 2.3 Contrast in topography between the Eden Shale Belt (left) and Inner Bluegrass (right) in Benson Creek watershed..................................................................................................... 9 Figure 2.4 Rock Lick Creek in the eastern Bluegrass region. The higher sediment load and, in particular, abundant sand-sized material (see inset) is characteristic of stream reaches that have headwaters in the Eastern