Mad River (Ohio)
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| Mad River | |
|---|---|
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| 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 river located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It flows nearly 60 mi (97 km) from Logan County, to downtown Dayton, where it meets the Great Miami River. The river flows southwest from its source near Campbell Hill through West Liberty, along U.S. Route 68 west of Urbana, past Springfield (where it meets up with Buck Creek), then along State Route 4 into Dayton. It makes its confluence with the Great Miami River at Deeds Park. 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.
The river is named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.[citation needed] A ski resort named Mad River Mountain is located near the Mad River's source.
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.
The Mad River is classified as the only sizeable coldwater fishery in Ohio, harboring non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta). The first salmonids stocked in the river were brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) back in the late 1800s. Soon thereafter rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stocking began in 1884, and continued for about 100 years until the mid 1980s. At that time the Ohio Division of Wildlife began stocking brown trout rather than rainbows. Today annual stockings of 6-8" brown trout supplement minimal natural reproduction that exists in the river due to sedimentation from channelization, extensive agricultural runoff, and diminishing riparian habitat. Some of these fish have reached impressive sizes (~10lb), as the fishery continues to gain popularity from local anglers. Anglers who enjoy fly fishing need not travel north or east to enjoy tackling the challenge of selective brown trout for an afternoon. Decent hatches occur on the Mad during the spring and early summer, comprised mostly of hendricksons, sulfurs, brown drakes, green drakes, and of course, midges and blue-winged olives (spring and fall).
[edit] See also
[edit] Variant names
According to the Geographic Names Information System, the Mad River has also been known as: [4]
- Fiume Mad
- Mad Creek
- Tiber River
[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.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Mad River
