An Overview of Kentucky's Rivers and Lakes
Largest and Most Famous Water Features
Kentucky boasts several prominent water bodies. The largest river is the Ohio River, which forms the northern border of the state and is vital for transportation and commerce. Lake Cumberland is one of the largest reservoirs, known for boating and fishing. Green River Lake and Kentucky Lake are other significant bodies of water, popular for recreation and wildlife.
Sources of Water for Rivers and Lakes
Many rivers and lakes in Kentucky are fed by local sources, including rainfall and runoff from local hills and mountains. However, some, like the Ohio River, receive water from as far as the Appalachian Mountains and beyond, making them influenced by distant snowmelt and other regional sources.
Types of Rivers and Waterways
Kentucky features major perennial rivers such as the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers, which flow year-round. Exotic rivers like the Red River add to the state's diversity. Tributary rivers like the Cumberland River and distributary rivers like the Mississippi River branches enrich the region. Man-made waterways include canals and aqueducts, while rapids and winding rivers provide recreational opportunities.
Types of Lakes in Kentucky
Kentucky hosts various types of lakes, predominantly anthropogenic like Lake Cumberland, created for flood control and hydroelectric power. Other types include fluvial lakes formed by river processes and shoreline lakes like Kentucky Lake. These lakes are popular for boating, fishing, and water sports.
River Orientation and Examples
Rivers in Kentucky generally flow north-south due to the state's geographical orientation. Examples include the Kentucky River flowing northward and the Cumberland River flowing southward, impacting regional transportation and commerce.
Natural vs. Manmade Lakes
Most lakes in Kentucky are manmade, primarily constructed by federal agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, completed in the mid-20th century, are prime examples, serving flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation.
Use of Rivers for Transportation
Rivers like the Ohio are crucial for transportation across Kentucky, facilitating the movement of heavy cargo via barges and ships. They play a significant role in regional commerce, though specific cargo volume data varies.
Dams on Rivers and Their Uses
Kentucky features numerous dams primarily used for flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and irrigation. Examples include the Barkley Dam and the Kentucky Dam on the Ohio River, enhancing local water management and providing recreational opportunities.
Recreation on Rivers and Lakes
Many of Kentucky's lakes and reservoirs, such as Lake Cumberland and Green River Lake, are popular for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, kayaking, and houseboating. These water bodies attract tourists and support local economies through outdoor tourism.
Support of Agriculture Industry
Several lakes and rivers in Kentucky support the agriculture industry through irrigation and water supply. The Ohio River and its tributaries, for instance, contribute to agricultural activities across the state, ensuring reliable water resources for farming and livestock.
Kentucky Rivers, Lakes, Streams and Water Features
Barren River, Barren Co, Kentucky
Barren River, Butler Co, Kentucky
Barren River, Monroe Co, Kentucky
Barren River, Warren Co, Kentucky
Barren River Lake, Allen Co, Kentucky
Barren River Lake, Barren Co, Kentucky
Bear Creek, Butler Co, Kentucky
Bear Creek, Edmonson Co, Kentucky
Bear Creek, Grayson Co, Kentucky
Beaver Creek, Barren Co, Kentucky
Beaver Creek, Metcalfe Co, Kentucky
Beech Fork,Marion Co, Kentucky
Beech Fork,Nelson Co, Kentucky
Beech Fork,Washington Co, Kentucky
Big Pitman Creek, Green Co, Kentucky
Big Pitman Creek, Taylor Co, Kentucky
Big S Fork Cumberland River, McCreary Co, KY
Big S Fork Cumberland River, Pulaski Co, KY
Big S Fork Cumberland River, Wayne Co, KY
Blaine Creek, Lawrence Co, Kentucky
Brashears Creek, Henry Co, Kentucky
Brashears Creek, Shelby Co, Kentucky
Brashears Creek, Spencer Co, Kentucky
Buck Creek, Lincoln Co, Kentucky
Buck Creek, Pulaski Co, Kentucky
Cave Run Lake, Bath Co, Kentucky
Cave Run Lake, Menifee Co, Kentucky
Cave Run Lake, Rowan Co, Kentucky
Chaplin River, Boyle Co, Kentucky
Chaplin River, Mercer Co, Kentucky
Chaplin River, Nelson Co, Kentucky
Chaplin River, Washington Co, Kentucky
Clarks River, Calloway Co, Kentucky
Clarks River, Marshall Co, Kentucky
Clarks River, McCracken Co, Kentucky
Clover Fork Cumberland River, Harlan Co, KY
Cumberland River, Bell Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Clinton Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Cumberland Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Harlan Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Knox Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, McCreary Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Monroe Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Russell Co, Kentucky
Cumberland River, Whitley Co, Kentucky
Dale Hollow Lake, Clinton Co, Kentucky
Dale Hollow Lake, Cumberland Co, Kentucky
Dix River, Boyle Co, Kentucky
Dix River, Garrard Co, Kentucky
Dix River, Lincoln Co, Kentucky
Dix River, Rockcastle Co, Kentucky
Eagle Creek, Carroll Co, Kentucky
Eagle Creek, Gallatin Co, Kentucky
Eagle Creek, Grant Co, Kentucky
Eagle Creek, Henry Co, Kentucky
Eagle Creek, Owen Co, Kentucky
Eagle Creek, Scott Co, Kentucky
E Fork Little Sandy River, Boyd Co, KY
E Fork Little Sandy River, Greenup Co, KY
E Fork Little Sandy River, Lawrence Co, KY
Fleming Creek, Fleming Co, Kentucky
Fleming Creek, Nicholas Co, Kentucky
Floyds Fork,Bullitt Co, Kentucky
Floyds Fork,Henry Co, Kentucky
Floyds Fork,Jefferson Co, Kentucky
Floyds Fork,Oldham Co, Kentucky
Floyds Fork,Shelby Co, Kentucky
Goose Creek, Clay Co, Kentucky
Green River, Adair Co, Kentucky
Green River, Butler Co, Kentucky
Green River, Casey Co, Kentucky
Green River, Daviess Co, Kentucky
Green River, Edmonson Co, Kentucky
Green River, Green Co, Kentucky
Green River, Hart Co, Kentucky
Green River, Henderson Co, Kentucky
Green River, Hopkins Co, Kentucky
Green River, Lincoln Co, Kentucky
Green River, McLean Co, Kentucky
Green River, Muhlenberg Co, Kentucky
Green River, Ohio Co, Kentucky
Green River, Taylor Co, Kentucky
Green River, Warren Co, Kentucky
Green River, Webster Co, Kentucky
Green River Lake, Adair Co, Kentucky
Green River Lake, Taylor Co, Kentucky
Guist Creek, Shelby Co, Kentucky
Guist Creek, Spencer Co, Kentucky
Herrington Lake, Boyle Co, Kentucky
Herrington Lake, Garrard Co, Kentucky
Herrington Lake, Mercer Co, Kentucky
Hinkston Creek, Bath Co, Kentucky
Hinkston Creek, Bourbon Co, Kentucky
Hinkston Creek, Montgomery Co, Kentucky
Hinkston Creek, Nicholas Co, Kentucky
Johns Creek, Floyd Co, Kentucky
Johns Creek, Pike Co, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake, Calloway Co, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake, Livingston Co, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake, Lyon Co, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake, Marshall Co, Kentucky
Kentucky Lake, Trigg Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Anderson Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Clark Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Estill Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Fayette Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Franklin Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Garrard Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Henry Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Jessamine Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Lee Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Madison Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Mercer Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Owen Co, Kentucky
Kentucky River, Woodford Co, Kentucky
Kinniconick Creek, Lewis Co, Kentucky
Lake Barkley,Livingston Co, Kentucky
Lake Barkley,Lyon Co, Kentucky
Lake Barkley,Trigg Co, Kentucky
Lake Cumberland,Clinton Co, Kentucky
Lake Cumberland,Pulaski Co, Kentucky
Lake Cumberland,Russell Co, Kentucky
Lake Cumberland,Wayne Co, Kentucky
Laurel River Lake, Laurel Co, Kentucky
Laurel River Lake, Whitley Co, Kentucky
Levisa Fork,Floyd Co, Kentucky
Levisa Fork,Johnson Co, Kentucky
Levisa Fork,Lawrence Co, Kentucky
Levisa Fork,Pike Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Bath Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Bracken Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Campbell Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Fleming Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Harrison Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Kenton Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Magoffin Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Menifee Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Morgan Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Nicholas Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Pendleton Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Robertson Co, Kentucky
Licking River, Rowan Co, Kentucky
Little Fork Little Sandy Riv, Carter Co, KY
Little Fork Little Sandy Riv, Elliott Co, KY
Little Kentucky River, Carroll Co, KY
Little Kentucky River, Henry Co, KY
Little Kentucky River, Trimble Co, KY
Little River, Christian Co, Kentucky
Little River, Trigg Co, Kentucky
Little Sandy River, Carter Co, Kentucky
Little Sandy River, Elliott Co, Kentucky
Little Sandy River, Greenup Co, Kentucky
Little South Fork,McCreary Co, Kentucky
Little South Fork,Wayne Co, Kentucky
Martins Fork Cumberland River, Bell Co, KY
Martins Fork Cumberland River, Harlan Co, KY
Mayfield Creek, Calloway Co, Kentucky
Mayfield Creek, McCracken Co, Kentucky
Mid Fork Kentucky River, Breathitt Co, KY
Middle Fork Kentucky River, Lee Co, KY
Middle Fork Kentucky River, Leslie Co, KY
Middle Fork Kentucky River, Perry Co, KY
Mississippi River, Ballard Co, KY
Mississippi River, Carlisle Co, KY
Mississippi River, Fulton Co, KY
Mississippi River, Hickman Co, KY
Mud River, Butler Co, Kentucky
Mud River, Logan Co, Kentucky
Mud River, Muhlenberg Co, Kentucky
Nolin Lake, Edmonson Co, Kentucky
Nolin Lake, Grayson Co, Kentucky
Nolin Lake, Hart Co, Kentucky
Nolin River, Grayson Co, Kentucky
Nolin River, Hardin Co, Kentucky
Nolin River, Hart Co, Kentucky
Nolin River, Larue Co, Kentucky
North Elkhorn Creek, Fayette Co, KY
North Elkhorn Creek, Franklin Co, KY
North Elkhorn Creek, Scott Co, KY
N Fork Kentucky River, Breathitt Co, KY
North Fork Kentucky River, Lee Co, KY
North Fork Kentucky River, Letcher Co, KY
North Fork Kentucky River, Perry Co, KY
North Fork Kentucky River, Wolfe Co, KY
North Fork Licking River, Bracken Co, KY
North Fork Licking River, Fleming Co, KY
North Fork Licking River, Lewis Co, KY
North Fork Licking River, Mason Co, KY
N Fork Licking River, Pendleton Co, KY
N Fork Licking River, Robertson Co, KY
Ohio River, Ballard Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Boone Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Boyd Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Bracken Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Breckinridge Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Campbell Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Carroll Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Crittenden Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Daviess Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Gallatin Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Greenup Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Hancock Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Hardin Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Henderson Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Jefferson Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Kenton Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Lewis Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Livingston Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Mason Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, McCracken Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Meade Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Oldham Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Pendleton Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Trimble Co, Kentucky
Ohio River, Union Co, Kentucky
Pitman Creek, Pulaski Co, Kentucky
Pond River, Christian Co, Kentucky
Pond River, Hopkins Co, Kentucky
Pond River, McLean Co, Kentucky
Pond River, Muhlenberg Co, Kentucky
Pond River, Todd Co, Kentucky
Poor Fork Cumberland River, Harlan Co, KY
Poor Fork Cumberland River, Letcher Co, KY
Quicksand Creek, Breathitt Co, KY
Quicksand Creek, Knott Co, Kentucky
Red Bird River, Clay Co, Kentucky
Red Bird River, Leslie Co, Kentucky
Red River, Clark Co, Kentucky
Red River, Estill Co, Kentucky
Red River, Menifee Co, Kentucky
Red River, Powell Co, Kentucky
Red River, Wolfe Co, Kentucky
Right Fork Beaver Creek, Floyd Co, KY
Right Fork Beaver Creek, Knott Co, KY
Rockcastle River, Jackson Co, Kentucky
Rockcastle River, Laurel Co, Kentucky
Rockcastle River, Pulaski Co, Kentucky
Rockcastle River, Rockcastle Co, KY
Rolling Fork,Bullitt Co, Kentucky
Rolling Fork,Hardin Co, Kentucky
Rolling Fork,Larue Co, Kentucky
Rolling Fork,Marion Co, Kentucky
Rolling Fork,Nelson Co, Kentucky
Rough River, Breckinridge Co, Kentucky
Rough River, Grayson Co, Kentucky
Rough River, Hardin Co, Kentucky
Rough River, McLean Co, Kentucky
Rough River, Ohio Co, Kentucky
Rough River Lake, Breckinridge Co, KY
Rough River Lake, Grayson Co, Kentucky
Russell Creek, Adair Co, Kentucky
Russell Creek, Green Co, Kentucky
Russell Creek, Russell Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Anderson Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Boyle Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Bullitt Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Hardin Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Jefferson Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Mercer Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Nelson Co, Kentucky
Salt River, Spencer Co, Kentucky
Silver Creek, Madison Co, Kentucky
Sinking Creek, Breckinridge Co, KY
Sinking Creek, Hardin Co, Kentucky
Skaggs Creek, Barren Co, Kentucky
Skaggs Creek, Metcalfe Co, Kentucky
Skaggs Creek, Monroe Co, Kentucky
Slate Creek, Bath Co, Kentucky
Slate Creek, Menifee Co, Kentucky
Slate Creek, Montgomery Co, Kentucky
South Elkhorn Creek, Fayette Co, KY
South Elkhorn Creek, Franklin Co, KY
South Elkhorn Creek, Scott Co, KY
South Elkhorn Creek, Woodford Co, KY
S Fork Kentucky River, Clay Co, KY
S Fork Kentucky River, Lee Co, KY
S Fork Kentucky River, Owsley Co, KY
S Fork Licking River, Bourbon Co, KY
S Fork Licking River, Harrison Co, KY
S Fork Licking River, Pendleton Co, KY
S Fork Little Barren River, Metcalfe Co, KY
S Fork Panther Creek, Daviess Co, KY
South Fork Panther Creek, Hancock Co, KY
South Fork Panther Creek, Ohio Co, KY
Stoner Creek, Bourbon Co, Kentucky
Stoner Creek, Clark Co, Kentucky
Sturgeon Creek, Jackson Co, Kentucky
Sturgeon Creek, Lee Co, Kentucky
Sturgeon Creek, Owsley Co, Kentucky
Taylorsville Lake, Spencer Co, Kentucky
Tradewater River, Caldwell Co, Kentucky
Tradewater River, Christian Co, Kentucky
Tradewater River, Crittenden Co, Kentucky
Tradewater River, Hopkins Co, Kentucky
Tradewater River, Union Co, Kentucky
Tradewater River, Webster Co, Kentucky
Troublesome Creek, Breathitt Co, Kentucky
Troublesome Creek, Knott Co, Kentucky
Troublesome Creek, Perry Co, Kentucky
Tug Fork, Lawrence Co, Kentucky
Tug Fork, Martin Co, Kentucky
Tug Fork, Pike Co, Kentucky
Tygarts Creek, Carter Co, Kentucky
Tygarts Creek, Greenup Co, Kentucky
West Fork Clarks River, Calloway Co, KY
West Fork Clarks River, Graves Co, KY
West Fork Clarks River, Marshall Co, KY
West Fork Clarks River, McCracken Co, KY
West Fork Drakes Creek, Simpson Co, KY
West Fork Drakes Creek, Warren Co, KY
West Fork Red River, Christian Co, KY
West Fork Red River, Todd Co, Kentucky
Whippoorwill Creek, Logan Co, Kentucky
Whippoorwill Creek, Todd Co, Kentucky