9 - Ohio River Basin

Abstract

The main-stem of the Ohio River flows through three physiographic provinces: the Appalachian Plateaus, underlain by Pennsylvanian and Mississippian limestones, shale, and coal beds; the Central Lowland, covered with glacial tills; and the Interior Low Plateaus, underlain by Mississippian limestone sand and chert, just entering the sedimentary deposits and loess of the Coastal Plain at its juncture with the Mississippi River. This chapter discusses the Ohio River main-stem and four of the major rivers that reflect the basin's diversity in an upstream progression from the Tennessee River to the Cumberland River, Wabash River, and Kanawha River. The physical and biological features of the Green, Kentucky, Great Miami, Scioto, Licking, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers are also provided. The Ohio River basin slopes generally east to west, spanning six physiographic provinces. The climate is continental temperate with cool moist winters and warm humid summers. The Ohio River basin, in particular the Tennessee–Cumberland aquatic ecoregion, is considered globally outstanding by virtue of its high fish and invertebrate diversity. Although better agricultural practices have reduced runoff throughout the basin, soil erosion with fertilizer and pesticide pollution continue to be major problems, as do impoundment, urbanization, industry, and coal mining.