Mad River (Ohio)
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| Mad River | |
|---|---|
 The Mad River flowing under Harshman Road in Riverside, Ohio |
|
| Origin | ~ 2 mi (3.2 km) northeast of Bellefontaine |
| Mouth | Great Miami River at Dayton |
| Length | 60 mi (97 km) |
| Source elevation | ~ 1,450 ft (442 m) [1] |
| Mouth elevation | ~ 750 ft (229 m) [2] |
| Basin area | 657 mi² (1,702 km²) [3] |
The Mad River is a stream located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It flows nearly 60 miles (97 km) from Logan County, to downtown Dayton, where it meets the Great Miami River. The stream flows southwest from its source near Campbell Hill through West Liberty, along U.S. Route 68 west of Urbana, past Springfield (the point of confluence with Buck Creek), then along Ohio State Route 4 into Dayton. The stream's confluence with the Great Miami River is in Deeds Park.
The Mad River was one of the Great Miami River tributaries that flooded during the Great Dayton Flood of 1913, resulting in the creation of the Miami Conservancy District.
Historically, the stream has also been known by the names Mad Creek and Tiber River, respectively, as well as by the Croatian name Fiume Mad (lit. "Mad River").[4]
The first road between Cincinnati and Dayton that opened up the "Mad River Country" to European settlement was the Mad River Road, cut in 1797. Today, a ski resort named Mad River Mountain is located near the stream's source.
Mad River is the largest coldwater fishery in Ohio.[citation needed] It is a native home of the brook trout, and is one of the few fisheries in Ohio in which brook trout survive.[citation needed] The Ohio Department of Natural Resources's Division of Wildlife periodically stocked Mad River with rainbow trout from 1931 until 1984, when the organization began stocking the stream with brown trout instead. The natural trout population suffers low reproduction rates due to sedimentation from channelization, extensive agricultural runoff, and diminishing habitat.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. Rushsylvania quadrangle, Ohio. 1:24,000. 7.5 Minute Series. Washington D.C.: USGS, 1961.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. Dayton North quadrangle, Ohio. 1:24,000. 7.5 Minute Series. Washington D.C.: USGS, 1996.
- ^ "Map of Ohio watersheds". http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/watersheds/Basins72PDI_40x40_OnScreen.gif.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographical Names Information System: Mad River
