Stearns Reservoir Dam dam
Stearns Reservoir Dam
Stearns Reservoir Dam, also known as Mill (Apple Tree) Pond, is a captivating water resource nestled in Cumberland Falls State Park, Kentucky. Built in 1920 by the Southern Railroad, this local government-owned earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and stretches 1200 feet in length. With a normal storage capacity of 55 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 70 acre-feet, the reservoir covers a surface area of 5.7 acres and drains a 0.1 square mile watershed area.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Stearns Reservoir Dam remains regulated and inspected by the Kentucky Division of Water. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and has not been rated for its condition assessment. The last inspection conducted in 2013 deemed the dam to have a five-year inspection frequency. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place, it serves as a vital resource for the surrounding community and wildlife, showcasing the harmonious intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in this picturesque region of Kentucky.
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 Stearns Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Cumberland River Near Stearns | 97 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Cumberland Falls | 418 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Williamsburg | 353 cfs | → |
| South Fk Cumberland River At Leatherwood Ford | 114 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Saxton | 47 cfs | → |
| New River At New River | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stearns Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Blue Heron - Big South Fork Area
- Bear Creek Horse Camp
- Alum Ford
- Alum Ford - Big South Fork Area
- Sandhill Rv Camp
- Cumberland Falls State Park
Paddle runs
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
Track Stearns 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 Stearns Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Stearns 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 Stearns Reservoir Dam.