252 



The Ohio Naturalist. 



[Vol. XIV, No. 4, 



FLOOD EROSION ALONG PAINT CREEK, FAYETTE 



COUNTY, OHIO. 



Charles W. Napper. 



A little more than two miles above Greenfield, Ohio, a crossroad 

 connects the Washington C. H. and Good Hope Pikes that have 

 run parallel for that same distance on the eastern and western sides 

 of Paint Creek. This cross road traverses the creek by what is 

 known in this locality as the First Iron Bridge. 



At this place Paint Creek is a rather deep stream flowing in a 

 well-defined bed with a distinct flood plain on either side. The 

 soil of this plain is thin, and in many instances the underlying rock, 

 the Greenfield dolomite, comes to the surface and projects into 

 the creek. 



Fig. 1. General view of cut from the southern end. 



For a short distance above the Iron Bridge, Paint Creek runs 

 due north and south. Below the bridge a rocky ledge causes it to 

 swing to the eastward. As is usual in stream life, when bends are 

 made, the stream will endeavor to straighten its channel under 

 certain favorable conditiotis. In the instance we are describing 

 these favorable conditions came with the high waters that pre- 

 vailed over southern Ohio in the latter part of March, 1913. 



At this time Paint Creek rapidly rose to its highest stage and 

 completely filled and covered its entire flood plain. The cut made 

 by the stream where it broke out of its accustomed channel has 

 a mean measurement of ;i")() feet long, 47 feet wide, and G feet deep. 



