Bullock Pen Lake Dam dam
Bullock Pen Lake Dam
Bullock Pen Lake Dam, located in Zion Station, Kentucky, is a vital water supply structure that plays a crucial role in providing water to the surrounding area. Built in 1953, this earth dam stands at a height of 50 feet and has a length of 670 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 3640 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 2189 acre-feet, the dam serves not only for water supply but also for recreational purposes, covering a surface area of 150 acres.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, the dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The hazard potential of the dam is classified as high, but its condition assessment is rated as satisfactory. In 2021, the dam underwent hydraulic modifications to enhance its performance and resilience. Despite being a risk management concern with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam remains a critical infrastructure asset for water resource management in Grant County, Kentucky.
With the Bulluck Pen Creek as its primary source, the Bullock Pen Lake Dam provides essential water resources for the community while offering recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Its uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 260 feet, allows for controlled discharge during periods of excess water flow. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management and maintenance of structures like Bullock Pen Lake Dam are essential for ensuring water security and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Bullock Pen Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mud Lick Cr At Hwy 42 Nr Beaverlick | 318 cfs | → |
| Cruises Creek At Hwy 17 Nr Piner | 9 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Glencoe | 344 cfs | → |
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 Nr Erlanger | 84 cfs | → |
| Gunpowder Cr At Camp Ernst Rd Nr Union | 353 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Markland Dam Near Warsaw | 98,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bullock Pen Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Boltz Lake Road 399, Grant County
- Indiana 156 2791, Patriot
- Indiana 156 18249, Patriot
- Craigs Creek Boat Ramp
- Arnold Creek Ramp
- Race Track Road Campbell County
Track Bullock Pen 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 Bullock Pen Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bullock Pen 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 Bullock Pen Lake Dam.