Dix River
Encyclopedia
The Dix River is a 79.3 miles (127.6 km) tributary of the Kentucky River
in central Kentucky
in the United States
.
It begins in western Rockcastle County
, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Mount Vernon
. It flows generally northwest, in a tight meander
ing course, passing north of Stanford
and east of Danville
. Northwest of Danville it is impounded by the Dix Dam
to form the Herrington Lake
reservoir. The river then flows about 2 miles (3 km) before joining the Kentucky River near High Bridge
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) southwest of Lexington
, in the region of the Kentucky River Palisades
.
The watershed of the river is largely agricultural land
, with undulating hills over a bed of limestone
. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing
, in particular for varieties of bass
. Occasionally, recreational kayakers and canoeists can be found on tame day trips. Water levels are Class I+ with possible mild class II.
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
in central Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It begins in western Rockcastle County
Rockcastle County, Kentucky
Rockcastle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 16,582. Its county seat is Mt. Vernon. The county is named for the Rockcastle River which runs through it...
, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Kentucky
Mount Vernon is a city in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rockcastle County. It is located at the junction of U.S...
. It flows generally northwest, in a tight meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing course, passing north of Stanford
Stanford, Kentucky
Stanford is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of the oldest settlements in Kentucky, having been founded in 1775. Its population was 3,430 at the 2000 census...
and east of Danville
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
. Northwest of Danville it is impounded by the Dix Dam
Dix Dam
The Dix Dam is a dam on the Dix River located between Mercer and Garrard County, Kentucky. It was constructed to generate hydroelectricity and prevent flooding of the Kentucky River but is better known for creating Herrington Lake.-History:...
to form the Herrington Lake
Herrington Lake
Herrington Lake is a artificial lake located in Mercer, Garrard and Boyle counties in Kentucky, USA. The lake was created by Kentucky Utilities' damming of the Dix River, a tributary of the Kentucky River, in 1925 to generate hydroelectric power. With a maximum depth of , Herrington Lake is the...
reservoir. The river then flows about 2 miles (3 km) before joining the Kentucky River near High Bridge
High Bridge, Kentucky
High Bridge is a small unincorporated community in Jessamine County, Kentucky, United States. It lies along the lower reaches of the Kentucky River near the confluence of the Dix River with the Kentucky...
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) southwest of Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, in the region of the Kentucky River Palisades
Kentucky River Palisades
The Kentucky River Palisades are a series of steep, scenic gorges and limestone outcroppings that stretch for approximately 100 mi , along the Kentucky River in central Kentucky in the United States....
.
The watershed of the river is largely agricultural land
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, with undulating hills over a bed of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
, in particular for varieties of bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
. Occasionally, recreational kayakers and canoeists can be found on tame day trips. Water levels are Class I+ with possible mild class II.