Dry Fork (Cheat River tributary) explained

Dry Fork
Map:Monon_DryFork.png
Map Size:300
Pushpin Map Size:300
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:West Virginia
Subdivision Type3:Counties
Subdivision Name3:Tucker, Randolph
Subdivision Type5:Cities
Subdivision Name5:Hendricks, Harman
Discharge1 Location:Hendricks(2005)[1]
Discharge1 Avg:756cuft/s(2005)[2]
Source1 Location:Col between Harper and Yokum knobs, Randolph County
Source1 Coordinates:38.7336°N -79.6478°W
Source1 Elevation:3740feet
Mouth:Confluence with Blackwater River
Mouth Location:Hendricks, Tucker County
Mouth Coordinates:39.0722°N -79.6292°W
Mouth Elevation:1700feet
Tributaries Left:Glady Fork, Laurel Fork, Otter Creek
Tributaries Right:Red Creek

The Dry Fork is a 39.1adj=midNaNadj=mid[3] tributary of the Black Fork of the Cheat River in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. Via the Black Fork, the Cheat, and the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The Dry Fork flows for much of its length in the Monongahela National Forest and drains mostly rural and forested areas.[4] It was traditionally considered one of the five Forks of Cheat.

Name

According to the Geographic Names Information System, Dry Fork has also been known historically as Dry Run. The stream's name derives from the occurrence of underground passages through which portions of the stream flow, leaving a dry streambed on the surface at times during the year.[5] (See Sinks of Gandy)

Geography

Course

The Dry Fork rises between Rich Mountain and Little Middle Mountain in eastern Randolph County and initially flows north-northeastwardly, past the towns of Whitmer, Job, and Harman. After it enters Tucker County (at Dryfork) it turns to the northwest and flows to the town of Hendricks, where it meets the Blackwater River to form the Black Fork.[4]

Tributaries

Gandy Creek — which passes through the well-known cave known as the "Sinks of Gandy" — joins Dry Fork at the town of Gandy. In the lower part of its course the Dry Fork collects the Laurel Fork, which joins it in Randolph County, and the Glady Fork, which joins it in Tucker County.[4] Both of these are also considered principal tributaries of the Cheat River.[6] Red Creek — which enters Dry Fork at the town of Dryfork — drains much of the Dolly Sods Wilderness area.

Further reading

See also

Notes and References

  1. [United States Geological Survey]
  2. [United States Geological Survey]
  3. Web site: The National Map . U.S. Geological Survey . Feb 17, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329155652/http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ . 2012-03-29 .
  4. [DeLorme]
  5. Book: Kenny, Hamill . West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains . 1945 . The Place Name Press . Piedmont, West Virginia . 215.
  6. Julian, Norman. 2006. "Cheat River." The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Ken Sullivan, editor. Charleston, WV: West Virginia Humanities Council. .