Editing Daniel Boone National Forest (section)

==Physical geography==
As of 2017 the Daniel Boone National Forest encompasses {{convert|708000|acres|ha}} of federally owned land within a {{convert|2100000|acres|ha|adj=on}} proclamation boundary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Daniel Boone National Forest|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf|website=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> The land within the proclamation boundary contains both publicly and privately owned land, along with thousands of miles of marked boundary lines between the two.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forest Boundaries|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/home/?cid=stelprdb5276999|website=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> Most privately owned land, accounting for about {{convert|1378410|acres}} is held by individuals and ranges from {{convert|100|acres}} to {{convert|300|acres}} in size.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-8}}

The forest is formed by two main areas: a {{convert|140|mi|km|adj=on}} wide strip of land along the western edge of the [[Cumberland Plateau]], and the Redbird Purchase, located on the east of the Cumberland Plateau.<ref name="impact">{{cite book|title=Daniel Boone National Forest (N.F.), Proposed Plan: Environmental Impact Statement|date=1985|publisher=[[National Forest Service]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xaU2AQAAMAAJ|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>{{rp|S-8}} The terrain is generally rugged, hilly and mountainous, with [[Terrain#Relief|reliefs]] of as much as {{convert|200|ft}} in the north and {{convert|2000|ft}} toward the south.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-1}} Administratively, the forest is divided into four ranger districts: Cumberland<ref>{{cite web|title=Cumberland Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=stelprdb5296143|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> London,<ref>{{cite web|title=London Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_032651|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> Redbird,<ref>{{cite web|title=Redbird Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_032653|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref> and Stearns.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stearns Ranger District|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=stelprdb5340919|website=[[United States Forest Service]]|access-date=5 December 2017}}</ref>

=== Counties ===
The Daniel Boone National Forest includes land across 21 Kentucky counties, namely:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}} 
# [[Bath County, Kentucky|Bath]]
# [[Clay County, Kentucky|Clay]]
# [[Estill County, Kentucky|Estill]]
# [[Harlan County, Kentucky|Harlan]]
# [[Jackson County, Kentucky|Jackson]]
# [[Knox County, Kentucky|Knox]]
# [[Laurel County, Kentucky|Laurel]]
# [[Lee County, Kentucky|Lee]]
# [[Leslie County, Kentucky|Leslie]]
# [[McCreary County, Kentucky|McCreary]]
# [[Menifee County, Kentucky|Menifee]]
# [[Morgan County, Kentucky|Morgan]]
# [[Owsley County, Kentucky|Owsley]]
# [[Perry County, Kentucky|Perry]]
# [[Powell County, Kentucky|Powell]]
# [[Pulaski County, Kentucky|Pulaski]]
# [[Rockcastle County, Kentucky|Rockcastle]]
# [[Rowan County, Kentucky|Rowan]]
# [[Wayne County, Kentucky|Wayne]]
# [[Whitley County, Kentucky|Whitley]]
# [[Wolfe County, Kentucky|Wolfe]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Kentucky Map|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5277042.pdf|website=[[National Forest Service]]|access-date=4 December 2017}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Water===
[[File:USACE Laurel River Dam and Lake.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the dam at [[Laurel River Lake]]]]
Major river systems include the [[Licking River (Kentucky)|Licking River]], [[Kentucky River]], and [[Cumberland River]], all of which flow into the [[Ohio River]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-10}} Four reservoirs are located within the forest, administered by the [[US Army Corps of Engineers]]. These are [[Cave Run Lake]], [[Buckhorn Lake (Kentucky)|Buckhorn Lake]], [[Lake Cumberland]] and [[Laurel River Lake]]. Taken together, at normal water levels these reservoirs comprise {{convert|63850|acre}} of water.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-2}} The forest additionally encompasses thousands of miles of smaller [[streams]], many of which flow only after heavy rain.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-1}} About {{convert|12500|acre}} are classified as [[riparian zones]], while {{convert|7000|acre}} are classified as [[floodplains]] or [[wetlands]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-11}}

Water is of an overall good quality, but is impacted by activities related to mining, and exploration for oil and gas.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-10}} The area averages {{convert|46|in}} of rainfall annually, with [[thunderstorms]] occurring an average of 46 days per year.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-2}} Due to shallow soil, heavy rains may result in severe local flooding, and conversely, many tributaries may become completely dry during periods of little rainfall.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-5}}

===Air===
Air quality in the forest is considered "excellent", due to the comparatively sparse population and lack of industry.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|III-6}} The majority of air pollution results from the 128 average annual forest fires,{{efn|Of these 128, the Forest Service estimated in 1985 that 126 were man made, and on average burned a total of {{convert|1869|acre}} per year. Approximately 1% of fires were believed to be caused by lightning strike.<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-11, S-12}}}} in addition to [[controlled burning]], the residential burning of [[coal]], and dust from [[Dirt road|unpaved roads]].<ref name="impact"/>{{rp|S-11, S-12}}