Lake Carnico Dam dam
Lake Carnico Dam
Lake Carnico Dam, located in Millersburg, Kentucky, is a recreational earth dam built in 1963 on Big Brushy Creek. With a height of 68 feet and a length of 1030 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 2962.5 acre-feet for activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing on its 114-acre surface area. Despite its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment in 2017, the dam continues to be regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Kentucky Division of Water to ensure public safety.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has a drainage area of 0.67 square miles. Although it lacks outlet gates and associated structures, Lake Carnico Dam remains a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts due to its scenic location in Nicholas County, Kentucky. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a DSAC assigned date pending, indicating ongoing efforts to manage potential risks associated with the dam's operation and maintenance.
As a local government-owned structure, Lake Carnico Dam is a significant asset for the community, offering not only recreational opportunities but also serving as a vital water resource in the region. With its historical significance and continued relevance in modern times, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions. Enthusiasts and stakeholders alike can appreciate the beauty and functionality of Lake Carnico Dam while recognizing the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management strategies to ensure its long-term integrity and safety.
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 Lake Carnico Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Licking River At Blue Lick Springs | 155 cfs | → |
| Hinkston Creek Near Carlisle | 3 cfs | → |
| North Fork Licking River Near Mt Olivet | 28 cfs | → |
| Licking River At Mckinneysburg | 219 cfs | → |
| Slate Creek At Highway 713 Nr Mt. Sterling | 34 cfs | → |
| Rock Lick Cr At State Hwy 158 Nr Sharkey | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Carnico Dam.
Boat launches
- 4 H Street Nicholas County
- Clay Wma Rd ( Lower Unit ) Nicholas County
- Robinson Road 2794, Harrison County
- Aberdeen Village Ramp
- Hinton Sadieville Road Sadieville
- Eagle Creek Marina
Campgrounds
Track Lake Carnico 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 Lake Carnico Dam
Where does the data for Lake Carnico 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 Lake Carnico Dam.