Guist Creek Lake Dam dam
Guist Creek Lake Dam
Guist Creek Lake Dam, located in Shelby, Kentucky, is a vital structure managed by the Department of Fish & Wildlife for water supply purposes. Completed in 1961, this Earth dam stands at a height of 60 feet and stretches 1060 feet in length. It has a maximum storage capacity of 13,944 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 333.1 acres, serving the local community with a normal storage capacity of 4,724 acre-feet.
Despite its importance, the dam has been flagged with a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, last inspected in May 2017. The spillway, with a width of 75 feet, is uncontrolled, posing some risks to downstream areas. The dam also lacks Emergency Action Plans and has not been updated to meet current guidelines, raising concerns about its preparedness for potential emergencies. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a need for improved risk management measures and regular inspections to ensure the safety and functionality of Guist Creek Lake Dam for both water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Guist Creek Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort | 814 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Glensboro | 16 cfs | → |
| Brashears Creek At Taylorsville | 332 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork At Fisherville | 1,620 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork Near Pewee Valley | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Guist Creek Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Long Run Lake Boat Ramp
- Corps Of Engineers Tailwater Road Spencer County
- Van Buren Road Anderson County
- Grange Drive 1412, La Grange
- Beaver Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
Track Guist Creek 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 Guist Creek Lake Dam
Where does the data for Guist Creek 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 High 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 Guist Creek Lake Dam.