Valley Creek Frs 3 dam
Valley Creek Frs 3
Valley Creek FRS 3, also known as Trooper Lake, is a vital flood risk reduction structure located in Hardin, Kentucky. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, this earth dam was completed in 1972 and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Nolin River. With a dam height of 46 feet and a storage capacity of 2070 acre-feet, Valley Creek FRS 3 covers a surface area of 12.9 acres and has a drainage area of 1.84 square miles.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2018, Valley Creek FRS 3 poses a high hazard potential due to its location and purpose. The spillway, which is uncontrolled and 40 feet wide, helps manage excess water during periods of heavy rainfall. With a risk assessment rating of moderate (3), the dam is subject to regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the surrounding area from flooding. Emergency action plans are in place, although they may need updating to meet current guidelines.
Valley Creek FRS 3 is a crucial infrastructure for flood risk management in the region, serving as a key component of the local government's efforts to protect communities along the Nolin River. With its strategic location, storage capacity, and hazard potential, this earth dam requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to effectively mitigate the risks associated with potential flooding events. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Valley Creek FRS 3 to be a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and flood risk reduction efforts in 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 Valley Creek Frs 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Fork Near Boston | 78 cfs | → |
| North Fork Nolin River At Hodgenville | 19 cfs | → |
| Nolin River At White Mills | 74 cfs | → |
| Long Lick At Clermont | 1 cfs | → |
| Beech Fork At Bardstown | 32 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Shepherdsville | 225 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valley Creek Frs 3.
Boat launches
- Porter River Road Hardin County
- Bullitt County Boat Ramp
- Briggs Webb Road 1498, Hart County
- Pine Springs Road 668, Grayson County
- Cooper Chapel Road Louisville
- Lasater Road Louisville
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 3 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 3
Where does the data for Valley Creek Frs 3 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 3.