Mad River (Ohio)
| Mad River | |
|---|---|
 The Mad River flowing under Harshman Road in Riverside, Ohio | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | ~ 2 mi (3.2 km) northeast of Bellefontaine |
| • elevation | ~ 1,450 ft (440 m)[1] |
| Mouth | |
• location | Great Miami River at Dayton |
• elevation | ~ 750 ft (230 m)[2] |
| Length | 66 mi (106 km) |
Basin size | 657 mi2 (1,700 km2)[3] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | near Dayton |
| • average | 757.4 cu ft/s (21.45 m3/s), USGS water years 1974-2019[4] |
The Mad River (Shawnee: Hathennithiipi [5]) is a stream located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It flows 66 miles (106 km)[6] 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.
The river derives its name from its mad, broken, and rapid current.[7] Christopher Gist, one of the first English explorers in the area, came upon the river while it was flooding and called it the "Mad River".[8] Historically, the stream has also been known by the names Mad Creek and Tiber River, respectively, as well as by the Italian form of the name, Fiume Mad (lit. 'Mad River').[9]
The first road between Cincinnati and Dayton that opened up the "Mad River Country" to European settlement was the Mad River Road, cut in 1795. Today, a ski resort named Mad River Mountain is located near the stream's source.
Mad River is the largest coldwater fishery in Ohio.[10] The Ohio Department of Natural Resources's Division of Wildlife periodically stocks Mad River with rainbow trout and brown trout.[11] The trout population suffers low reproduction rates due to sedimentation from channelization, extensive agricultural runoff, and diminishing habitat.[12][13]
American psychedelic rock band Mad River, formed in nearby Yellow Springs, took their name from this river.
See also
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". Archived from the original on 2007-03-11.
- ↑ "USGS Water-Year Summary for Site 03270000". waterdata.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- ↑ "Shawnees Webpage". Shawnee's Reservation. 1997. Archived from the original on 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2013-04-26.
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 19, 2011
- ↑ Kilbourn, John (1833). The Ohio Gazetteer, or, a Topographical Dictionary. Scott and Wright. pp. 289. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ↑ Kummerow, Burton K. (2001). Heartland: An Exhibition from the Collection of the Heritage Center of Clark County. Clark County Historical Society. p. 123. ISBN 0-9707625-0-X.
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mad River
- ↑ Abrams, Jim (12 November 2020). "Wading into Fall Fly Fishing". The Courier: Findlay News. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Ohio Department of Natural Resources". Rainbow/Brown Trout. 2012. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ↑ "Ohio EPA Mad River Watershed TMDL Report" (PDF). Ohio EPA. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ Welter, Chris (17 May 2023). "Local Watershed Plan Looks to Reduce Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zones'". WYSO. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
