DISSEMINATION OF DETAILED GEOLOGIC MAPPING TO THE PUBLIC: A CASE STUDY OF FLOYDS FORK IN THE FISHERVILLE 7.5-MINUTE QUADRANGLE

Presenting detailed geologic data to the public should be a fundamental concern of taxpayer-based state and federal agencies; however, this can be challenging if there is no physical context.

Floyds Fork is a half-mile-wide, meandering stream valley, and is a major drainage in northwestern Kentucky, extending from the confluence of the north and east forks of Floyds Fork northeast of Louisville to the Salt River southeast of Louisville.

The Geologic Mapping Section at the Kentucky Geological Survey, through funding by STATEMAP, has created a series of surficial geologic maps for the area near Louisville from 2013 to 2016. The Fisherville 7.5-minute quadrangle which borders the eastern part of Louisville, was mapped during the 2015-16 funding cycle. The area is in the Outer Bluegrass physiographic region, which typically has low to moderate relief and consists of rolling hills and incised plateaus. Bedrock is Upper Ordovician to Middle Silurian limestone, dolomite, and shale. Unconsolidated surficial deposits overlie bedrock in most of the quadrangle. Bedrock is exposed in stream channels and cutbanks, as well as along roadcuts. Alluvium and alluvial landforms, such as terraces and alluvial fans, occur in stream valleys, and thin deposits of colluvium cover the hillslopes bordering stream valleys. Weathered bedrock with soil development, along with small amounts of loess, occur on ridgetops and are mapped as residuum. Residuum is characterized by well-developed soil horizons and the contact with colluvium is based on slope, occurrence of rock fragments, and undeveloped soil horizons.

In the Fisherville quadrangle, Floyds Fork is used mostly for recreational purposes, including the famous Valhalla Golf Club. South of Valhalla is a series of parks located within the Floyds Fork Valley, which are collectively called Parklands of Floyds, and are connected to and accessed by a bicycle trail called the Louisville Loop.

The geologic setting and the popularity of the parks provide an opportunity to present hands-on results of our mapping to the public. In order to maximize contact and awareness, a digital Story Map of Floyds Fork, focusing on the bedrock geology and overlying surficial deposits, was created. The Story Map includes a self-guided field trip to points of geologic interest.