Elkhorn Creek is an stream running through several counties in central Kentucky in the United States. The stream drains an area of . It derives its name from the shape, as seen on a map, of its main stem with its two primary forks.
thumb|left|250px|Wallace Dam on North Elkhorn Creek in Scott County.
North Elkhorn Creek starts just east of Lexington and flows
Fishing tips can be accessed from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources website.
Environmental damage
Damage to the Elkhorn Creek has been caused by industrial incidents on a few occasions, most notably in 1908, 1934, and 1999. In 1908, The Greenbaum Distillery caught on fire and the burned whiskey was dumped into the Elkhorn creek causing thousands of fish to die. Similarly, in 1934 the Pepper Distillery caught on fire and dumped whiskey into the creek also causing the death of many fish species. Much later in 1999, a paint-factory fire released deadly chemicals into Elkhorn Creek which also lead to the death of native species.
Legends
The name of Elkhorn Creek is largely unknown but the Native American legend of Chin-gash-goochy has an explanation for the unusual name. The story follows Chin-gash-goochy, a young Native American man who falls madly in love with a fellow Native American woman named Ne-me-no-che-char. Ne-me-no-char was betrothed to Chin-gash-goochy's father but their love was too strong so they decided to flee to the distant land of what is now Kentucky to start a new life. The lovers left on the back of an Elk named Wapita who would bring them all the way to the new land. Chin-gash-goochy's father caught up with the two runaways and shot his last arrow at them striking Wapita in the heart. While Wapita was slowly dying, he protected the lovers by forming a barricade with his massive antlers between them and their enemy so he could not pass. The lovers started their new life behind the barricade and over time, Wapita's antlers sunk deeper and deeper into the soil and eventually dug out the first crevices that would create the Elkhorn Creek.
See also
- List of rivers of Kentucky