Elkhorn Lake Dam dam
Elkhorn Lake Dam
Elkhorn Lake Dam, located in Jenkins, Kentucky, was completed in 1912 by CONSOLIDATED COAL CO. The dam is classified as a gravity dam with a height of 40 feet and a length of 225 feet, holding a storage capacity of 300 acre-feet of water from the Elkhorn Creek. The primary purpose of Elkhorn Lake Dam is to provide water supply to the local community, making it a critical infrastructure for the region.
Despite its historical significance, Elkhorn Lake Dam has been identified as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, with the last inspection in May 2018. The dam is regulated by the KY Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure public safety. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a need for ongoing risk management measures to address the dam's structural integrity and prevent potential hazards.
As a key component of the water supply system in Letcher County, Elkhorn Lake Dam plays a vital role in supporting the community's water needs. However, with its aging infrastructure and high hazard potential, there is a pressing need for continued monitoring, maintenance, and potential upgrades to ensure the safety and reliability of the dam for future generations.
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 Elkhorn Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Kentucky River At Whitesburg | 23 cfs | → |
| Cranes Nest River Near Clintwood | 29 cfs | → |
| Pound River Below Flannagan Dam Near Haysi | 26 cfs | → |
| Russell Fork At Bartlick | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Russell Fork At Haysi | 467 cfs | → |
| Guest River At Coeburn | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elkhorn Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Smithsboro Road Perry County
- Carr Creek Dam Road Knott County
- Big Cherry Road Wise County
- Lick Creek Pike County
- Lake Keokee Loop Lee County
- Sr 65 Dungannon
Campgrounds
- Jack Sutter Campsite
- Indian Grave Campsite
- Cane Patch Campground
- Cane Patch
- Swindall Campsite
- Mullins Pond Campsite
Paddle runs
- Confluence Of White Branch With Russell Fork (And 1 Mile Upstream On Pound River) To Railroad Bridge Crossing Above Elkhorn City
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
Track Elkhorn 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 Elkhorn Lake Dam
Where does the data for Elkhorn 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 Elkhorn Lake Dam.