Carpenter Lake Dam dam
Carpenter Lake Dam
Carpenter Lake Dam, located in Owensboro, Kentucky, was completed in 1936 and serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and stretches 325 feet in length, impounding a total storage capacity of 441.4 acre-feet. The dam overlooks Pup Creek and is managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, ensuring state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to maintain its safety and integrity.
With a hazard potential rated as low and a moderate risk assessment, Carpenter Lake Dam remains a secure and well-maintained structure in the Louisville District. Although its condition assessment is marked as not rated, the dam receives regular inspections every five years to ensure its safety. While the spillway type is uncontrolled, the surrounding area offers a surface area of 62.2 acres for recreational activities, attracting visitors who appreciate the intersection of water resources and climate conservation efforts in this scenic location.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking a serene recreational escape, Carpenter Lake Dam provides a picturesque setting in Daviess County, Kentucky. With its historical significance dating back to the 1930s and its modern-day management by the state regulatory agency, the dam stands as a testament to sustainable water management practices and environmental stewardship. Whether exploring the surrounding area or simply admiring the beauty of Pup Creek, visitors can appreciate the balance between human recreation and natural resource conservation at Carpenter Lake Dam.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Carpenter Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Cannelton Dam At Cannelton | 66,900 cfs | → |
| South Fork Panther Creek Near Whitesville | 18 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 177 cfs | → |
| Green River At Lock 2 At Calhoun | 777 cfs | → |
| Caney Creek Near Horse Branch | · | → |
| Patoka River At Winslow | 477 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carpenter Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lock Avenue Owensboro
- Co 290 South 8915, Spencer County
- Hawesville
- North 1st Street, Cannelton
- Water Street 300, Troy
- Sr 166 8699, Perry County
Campgrounds
- Vastwood Co Park
- Vastwood Park
- Lincoln State Park
- Lake Lincoln Campground
- Buckhorn Primitive Campground/ Youth Tent Area
- Gobbler's Run Non-Electric Campground
Paddle runs
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
Track Carpenter Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Carpenter Lake Dam
Where does the data for Carpenter Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Carpenter Lake Dam.