Walnut Hill Dam dam
Walnut Hill Dam
Walnut Hill Dam, also known as Greenbrier Estates Lake, is a privately owned structure located in Fayette, Kentucky, along the North Elkhorn Creek. Built in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a length of 760 feet, providing a storage capacity of 175 acre-feet of water for recreational purposes. The dam's primary purpose is to support recreation activities in the area, offering a surface area of 18.2 acres for visitors to enjoy.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with the last inspection conducted in August 2017. The Kentucky Division of Water regulates and inspects the dam, ensuring compliance with state regulations and enforcing necessary maintenance and safety measures. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, it is important for stakeholders to prioritize risk management measures to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of Walnut Hill Dam for both recreational and environmental purposes.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Walnut Hill Dam serves as a valuable site for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure with natural waterways. As a privately owned structure with state oversight, the dam represents a balance between recreational benefits and the need for responsible management to mitigate potential risks. Monitoring and investing in the maintenance of Walnut Hill Dam can not only enhance the safety of the surrounding community but also contribute to the preservation of the North Elkhorn Creek ecosystem for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
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 Walnut Hill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryant Rd Nr Cadentown | 0 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Winchester Rd Nr Lexington | 0 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryan Station Rd At Montrose | 0 cfs | → |
| Wolf Run At Old Frankfort Pike At Lexington | 7 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester | 462 cfs | → |
| Town Branch At Yarnallton Road At Yarnallton | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walnut Hill Dam.
Boat launches
- Tates Creek Road 3302, Madison County
- Paris Pike Georgetown
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- College Hill Road Madison County
Campgrounds
- Kentucky Horse Park Campgrounds
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Kentucky Horse Park Campground
- Camp On The Kentucky
Fishing spots
- Boat Launch
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
Paddle runs
Track Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill Dam
Where does the data for Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill Dam.