London Reservoir Dam dam
London Reservoir Dam
The London Reservoir Dam, located in Burnside, Kentucky, serves as a vital water resource and recreational site in the area. Built in 1955, this earth dam stands at a height of 54 feet and spans a length of 250 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 653.3 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Sinking Creek and is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, ensuring its compliance with state inspection, permitting, and enforcement requirements.
Owned by the local government, the primary purpose of the London Reservoir Dam is recreation, offering a surface area of 26 acres for outdoor activities. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is subject to moderate risk assessment, indicating the need for ongoing risk management measures. While it has not been rated for condition assessment, the dam has a history of regular inspections, with the last one conducted in May 2013, maintaining its safety and functionality for the community.
The London Reservoir Dam not only provides water storage and recreational opportunities but also contributes to the overall environmental and economic well-being of Laurel County, Kentucky. With its scenic location and regulated maintenance, the dam remains a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike, showcasing the importance of sustainable water management practices in 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 London Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rockcastle River At Billows | 35 cfs | → |
| Lynn Camp Creek At Corbin | 4 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Shopville | 6 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Cumberland Falls | 449 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Manchester | 25 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Williamsburg | 379 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near London Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Whitley County
- I 75 Rockcastle County
- Grove Whitley County
- Battleground Road Livingston
- Ky 3497 Laurel County
- Redbird Road Whitley County
Campgrounds
- Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
- Wood Creek Lake Ramp - Dfwr
- White Oak Boat-In Campground
- Craigs Creek Group Use Area
- Holly Bay Rec Area
- Holly Bay Campground
Paddle runs
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
- Turkey Foot Campground To Confluence With South Fork Of Station Camp Creek
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
Track London Reservoir 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 London Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for London Reservoir 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 Low 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 London Reservoir Dam.