Abstract

Topographic map evidence in the western North Carolina French Broad River drainage basin (upstream from Asheville) was used to determine if a new geology and glacial history paradigm (new paradigm) can explain previously unexplained (and anomalous) drainage system evidence. The new paradigm claims: 1) the Eastern Continental Divide was uplifted as the southeastern rim of a continental ice sheet created deep “hole” (in which the ice sheet was located) as immense and prolonged southwest-oriented meltwater floods flowed across it, 2) headward erosion of south and southeast-oriented valleys (in sequence from the southwest to the northeast) diverted floodwaters more directly to the Atlantic Ocean, and 3) headward erosion of north- and northwest-oriented valleys from the developing deep “hole” (in sequence from the southwest to the northeast) diverted floodwaters to deep “hole” space (located between the rising deep “hole” rim and the ice sheet margin) and then toward deep “hole” southern exits (eventually the Mississippi River valley became the only southern exit). The new paradigm permitted the following types of drainage system evidence to be explained:1) numerous barbed tributaries flowing to a northeast-oriented French Broad River segment, 2) a larger than required northeast-oriented French Broad River valley, 3) and diverging and converging valley complexes which are found throughout the northeast-oriented oriented French Broad River headwaters drainage basin. In addition, the map evidence could be interpreted to show: 1) headward erosion of the north- and northwest-oriented French Broad River valley captured southwest-oriented flow to the north-oriented Pigeon River valley which had captured flow to the northwest-oriented Little Tennessee River valley, 2) headward erosion of the south-oriented Broad River valley captured southwest-oriented flow to the northeast- and north-oriented French Broad River and the south-oriented Toxaway River and 3) and multiple gaps identify locations where southwest-oriented water entered and exited the present-day French Broad River headwaters drainage basin.

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