Valley Creek Frs 12 dam
Valley Creek Frs 12
Valley Creek FRS 12, also known as Buffalo Lake, is a flood risk reduction structure located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Built in 1973 by the Soil Conservation Service, USDA/NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet and has a length of 3000 feet. It serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Nolin River, with a storage capacity of 2570 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 115 acre-feet.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Valley Creek FRS 12 is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam has a spillway width of 160 feet and is classified as having a high hazard potential, though its condition is assessed as fair. The risk assessment for the structure is moderate, with a DSAC assigned date and risk management measures pending further investigation.
With its strategic location and vital role in flood risk reduction along the Nolin River, Valley Creek FRS 12 is a key component of the water resource infrastructure in Hardin County, Kentucky. Its history of construction and maintenance reflects a commitment to safeguarding communities from potential flood events, while ongoing assessments and risk management efforts ensure the structure's continued effectiveness in protecting the surrounding area from water-related hazards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Valley Creek FRS 12 offers a fascinating case study in sustainable water management practices and the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and environmental stewardship.
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 Valley Creek Frs 12 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Fork Near Boston | 76 cfs | → |
| North Fork Nolin River At Hodgenville | 19 cfs | → |
| Nolin River At White Mills | 76 cfs | → |
| Long Lick At Clermont | 1 cfs | → |
| Beech Fork At Bardstown | 38 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Shepherdsville | 216 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valley Creek Frs 12.
Boat launches
- Porter River Road Hardin County
- Bullitt County Boat Ramp
- Briggs Webb Road 1498, Hart County
- Pine Springs Road 668, Grayson County
- Lakeview Circle Grayson County
- River Road 199, Munfordville
Campgrounds
- Camp Carlson Military - Fort Knox
- Salt River Recreation Park
- Salt River Rec Area
- My Old Kentucky Home State Park
- South Harrison Co Park
- Wax - Nolin River Lake
Track Valley Creek Frs 12 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 Valley Creek Frs 12
Where does the data for Valley Creek Frs 12 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 Valley Creek Frs 12.