Mt Washington Dam dam
Mt Washington Dam
Mt Washington Dam, also known as Jefferson County Sportsman Lake, is a local government-owned structure located in Bullitt, Kentucky. Built in 1940, the earth dam stands at 33 feet high and spans 640 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 550 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, with a surface area of 25 acres and a drainage area of 3.01 square miles, providing a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is rated as having poor condition assessment, with the last inspection conducted in August 2016. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 38 feet, and the dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water. The risk assessment for Mt Washington Dam is moderate, with a rating of 3 on the scale, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
Located on Floyds Creek and managed by the Louisville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Mt Washington Dam serves as a recreational oasis in the heart of Shepherdsville. With its historical significance and natural beauty, this dam is a key feature in the water resource and climate landscape of Kentucky, attracting visitors and water resource enthusiasts alike to explore its waters and surrounding area.
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 Mt Washington Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Floyds Fork Near Mt Washington | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek At Thixton Road Near Louisville | 40 cfs | → |
| Pennslyvania Run At Mt Washington Rd Nr Louisville | 10 cfs | → |
| Chenoweth Run At Gelhaus Lane Near Fern Creek | 19 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek At Hwy 1442 Near Shepherdsville | 21 cfs | → |
| Fern Creek At Old Bardstown Rd At Louisville | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mt Washington Dam.
Boat launches
- Lasater Road Louisville
- Cooper Chapel Road Louisville
- Bullitt County Boat Ramp
- Corps Of Engineers Tailwater Road Spencer County
- Long Run Lake Boat Ramp
- Porter River Road Hardin County
Campgrounds
- Taylorsville Lake State Park
- My Old Kentucky Home State Park
- Lake Shelby Campground
- Salt River Rec Area
- Salt River Recreation Park
- Guist Creek Lake County Park
Track Mt Washington 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 Mt Washington Dam
Where does the data for Mt Washington 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 Mt Washington Dam.