Smokey Valley Dam dam
Smokey Valley Dam
Smokey Valley Dam, also known as Carter Caves State Park, is a state-owned earth dam located in Iron Hill, Kentucky. Built in 1953 by the Department of Conservation - Division of Parks, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes along Smokey Creek. With a height of 37 feet and a length of 260 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 845 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the area.
Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition, as assessed in December 2016. The Kentucky Division of Water regulates and inspects the dam regularly to ensure its safety and enforcement. With a moderate risk rating of 3, the dam requires ongoing risk management measures to mitigate potential threats and safeguard the surrounding community.
In the picturesque setting of Carter, Kentucky, Smokey Valley Dam stands as a vital recreational and water resource structure. While facing challenges in its condition assessment, the dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts who appreciate the role it plays in providing essential services to the region.
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 Smokey Valley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sandy River At Grayson | 60 cfs | → |
| Tygarts Creek Near Greenup | 31 cfs | → |
| Upper Twin Creek At Mcgaw Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| North Fork Triplett Creek Near Morehead | 23 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Greenup Dam Near Greenup | 44,600 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Ironton | 41,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smokey Valley Dam.
Boat launches
- 4 C'S Trail Carter County
- Grayson Road Elliott County
- Center Street Landing
- Warix Run Boat Dock Road Rowan County
- Paragon-Craney Road Rowan County
- 16th Street Ashland
Campgrounds
- Johson Homeplace
- North Fork - Dfwr
- Paragon Dispersed Camping Area
- Paragon
- Twin Knobs Rec Area
- Boat Gunnel Group Campground
Track Smokey Valley 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 Smokey Valley Dam
Where does the data for Smokey Valley 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 Significant 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 Smokey Valley Dam.