Deepest spot on the Ohio? Bottom terrain?

[MagikSmallie]

Your comment about creek bottoms is similar to my way of thinking on it. The natural processes are the same, so the same principles must apply, right? The biggest difference is scale.

I bet there are areas that change and shift pretty frequently, depending on conditions; a blanket of silt might deposit, and then a field of debris on top of it (logs, whiskey bottles...) and then the next "flood stage" might scrub it back to bare limestone for a while. I dunno. At any rate, I agree with you and MarkW that it must differ depending on the terrain around the river--I bet that around the knobs, there must be more rocks along the bottom.

I would also guess that the current must sometimes carve out a deeper hole that will shift and disappear again.

Here's another question for people who are commenting about the depth from their own experiences: is you measurement based on depth/fish finders? And are those sonar-based? If so, do varying water temperatures give odd readings regarding depth? (for instance, can it exagerate the depth, or hide how deep something truly is?)

I want to sit down and talk with a geologist/hydrologist...but I don't know any...

I am a geologist, not exactly a Hydrologist. I think most of you are on point. in higher velocity flows you will obviously lose alot of the silt and will experience a more bare rock, boulder (anything bigger than a fist is considered a boulder), pebbles and gravel surfaces. In your lower velocity flow areas (the closer you get to the Mississippi the slower the flow gets) and the more silt and mud you will encounter on the bottom. Every area of the river will be different. A major factor to consider is tributary mouths and what type of sediment is being fed from these tributaries. Some will carry more silt and clay others will be "cleaner" (less turbid) and carry more sand. Always remember your grain sizes from largest to smallest in both terms of weight and size are sand, silt, and clay. In my opinion you will see every sort of bottom depending on the immediate environment. Of course the addition of dams along the Ohio has increased the depth and slowed the flow down considerably and you are most likely looking at a major increase in siltation and mud accumulation above these dams (just something to consider). I do believe from everything I've read that the max normal pool depth of the Ohio is around 132' (Louisville) and it shallows gradually until it reaches the Mississippi.

[smashdn]

I am a geologist, not exactly a Hydrologist. I think most of you are on point. in higher velocity flows you will obviously lose alot of the silt and will experience a more bare rock, boulder (anything bigger than a fist is considered a boulder), pebbles and gravel surfaces. In your lower velocity flow areas (the closer you get to the Mississippi the slower the flow gets) and the more silt and mud you will encounter on the bottom. Every area of the river will be different. A major factor to consider is tributary mouths and what type of sediment is being fed from these tributaries. Some will carry more silt and clay others will be "cleaner" (less turbid) and carry more sand. Always remember your grain sizes from largest to smallest in both terms of weight and size are sand, silt, and clay. In my opinion you will see every sort of bottom depending on the immediate environment. Of course the addition of dams along the Ohio has increased the depth and slowed the flow down considerably and you are most likely looking at a major increase in siltation and mud accumulation above these dams (just something to consider). I do believe from everything I've read that the max normal pool depth of the Ohio is around 132' (Louisville) and it shallows gradually until it reaches the Mississippi.

At the confluence with the Miss the Ohio is wider across. I agree that it just gets shallower and wider as it nears the confluence with the Miss.

[KentuckyBristle]

I am a geologist, not exactly a Hydrologist. I think most of you are on point. in higher velocity flows you will obviously lose alot of the silt and will experience a more bare rock, boulder (anything bigger than a fist is considered a boulder), pebbles and gravel surfaces. In your lower velocity flow areas (the closer you get to the Mississippi the slower the flow gets) and the more silt and mud you will encounter on the bottom. Every area of the river will be different. A major factor to consider is tributary mouths and what type of sediment is being fed from these tributaries. Some will carry more silt and clay others will be "cleaner" (less turbid) and carry more sand. Always remember your grain sizes from largest to smallest in both terms of weight and size are sand, silt, and clay. In my opinion you will see every sort of bottom depending on the immediate environment. Of course the addition of dams along the Ohio has increased the depth and slowed the flow down considerably and you are most likely looking at a major increase in siltation and mud accumulation above these dams (just something to consider). I do believe from everything I've read that the max normal pool depth of the Ohio is around 132' (Louisville) and it shallows gradually until it reaches the Mississippi.

Thanks, MagikSmallie, and everyone else who has commented.

[restornator]

I am a geologist, not exactly a Hydrologist. I think most of you are on point. in higher velocity flows you will obviously lose alot of the silt and will experience a more bare rock, boulder (anything bigger than a fist is considered a boulder), pebbles and gravel surfaces. In your lower velocity flow areas (the closer you get to the Mississippi the slower the flow gets) and the more silt and mud you will encounter on the bottom. Every area of the river will be different. A major factor to consider is tributary mouths and what type of sediment is being fed from these tributaries. Some will carry more silt and clay others will be "cleaner" (less turbid) and carry more sand. Always remember your grain sizes from largest to smallest in both terms of weight and size are sand, silt, and clay. In my opinion you will see every sort of bottom depending on the immediate environment. Of course the addition of dams along the Ohio has increased the depth and slowed the flow down considerably and you are most likely looking at a major increase in siltation and mud accumulation above these dams (just something to consider). I do believe from everything I've read that the max normal pool depth of the Ohio is around 132' (Louisville) and it shallows gradually until it reaches the Mississippi.

Silt and clay will not settle unless the water is stagnant. When there is current, any deposits are swept off the bottom. Sand bars and silt are constantly shifting after every flood event. Most of these suspended solids never settle to the bottom; the only predictable bottom structures are shoals and rapids where the river can't carve out the earth at the same rate as soft-bottom areas.

[MagikSmallie]

Silt and clay will not settle unless the water is stagnant. When there is current, any deposits are swept off the bottom. Sand bars and silt are constantly shifting after every flood event. Most of these suspended solids never settle to the bottom; the only predictable bottom structures are shoals and rapids where the river can't carve out the earth at the same rate as soft-bottom areas.

The water behind the River's 20+ lock and dams create the stagnant water and you do have sedimentation and settling of the Silt and Clay particles.