Beaver Creek is a stream in
Floyd County, Kentucky
Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,942. Its county seat is Prestonsburg. The county, founded in 1800, is named for Colonel John Floyd (1750–1783).
History
On Decembe ...
, in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It is located between the towns of Martin and Allen City.
Some of the first white visitors to Floyd County camped on Beaver Creek in 1775.
There are 6 branches that come off of the creek: Hunter Branch, Arkansas Creek, Lane Branch, Betsy Clark Branch, Eel Branch, and Hatcher Branch.
Along Beaver Creek is Stumbo park. The park includes baseball fields, basketball courts, and recreational fire pits open to use of the public. The park also includes a 9-hole golf course.
Water quality
A biological assessment of the creek was taken in 2002 by the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet. 1 of the 28 samples taken from the creek was deemed suitable for full use. The other samples were deemed partially suitable.
Coal mining
Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...
is the main factor contributing to the poor
water quality
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water based on the standards of its usage. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance, generally achieved through tr ...
. There was a 5% decrease in surrounding forest in the
watershed zone observed between 1994 and 2002. Additionally there was an 18% decrease in the
riparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the terrestrial biomes of the Earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks ar ...
.
Coal mining history
Thomas Walker was the first to discover and utilize
coal mining in Kentucky Coal was discovered in Kentucky in 1750. Since the first commercial coal mine opened in 1820 coal has gained both economic importance and controversy regarding its environmental consequences. As of 2010 there were 442 operating coal mines in the sta ...
in 1750. In the early to mid 1900's there were 130 mining companies drilling for coal in the surrounding area of Beaver Creek. Coal mining boosted the economy in the surrounding area's of Beaver Creek. In 2014, $61.3 million in coal severance tax went back to coal mining counties for infrastructure and economic improvements.
See also
*
List of rivers of Kentucky
List of rivers in Kentucky (U.S. state).
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name. All rivers in Kentucky flow to the Mississippi River, nearly all by virtue o ...
References
Rivers of Floyd County, Kentucky
Rivers of Kentucky
{{Kentucky-river-stub