Mill Creek Mps No 4 dam
Mill Creek Mps No 4
Mill Creek Mps No 4, also known as Tompkinsville Lake, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Gamaliel, Kentucky. Completed in 1972, this dam serves primarily for recreation purposes and is situated on the Barren River. With a height of 63 feet and a length of 1330 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 4504 acre-feet and a surface area of 109.1 acres.
Despite its importance for recreation, Mill Creek Mps No 4 has a high hazard potential and is currently in poor condition, as assessed in September 2017. The dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The spillway of the dam is uncontrolled, with a width of 150 feet, posing additional challenges in managing water discharge during high flow events.
Given its moderate risk level and the need for maintenance and improvements, Mill Creek Mps No 4 presents an opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts to engage in discussions around dam safety, risk management measures, and the preservation of recreational assets within the local community. As a key structure on the Barren River, the dam's condition and regulatory oversight are critical factors to consider in ensuring its long-term functionality and resilience to changing environmental conditions.
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 Mill Creek Mps No 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lick Creek Below Red Boiling Springs | 27 cfs | → |
| Roaring River Near Hilham | 10 cfs | → |
| Russell Creek Near Columbia | 12 cfs | → |
| West Fork Obey River Near Alpine | 11 cfs | → |
| Wolf River Near Byrdstown | 16 cfs | → |
| Drakes Creek Near Alvaton | 96 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Creek Mps No 4.
Boat launches
- Cumberland County
- Riverbrook Trail Cumberland County
- Allen County
- Dodson Branch Highway 10281-10325, Gainesboro
- State Park Road Clinton County
- State Park Road Barren County
Track Mill Creek Mps No 4 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 Mill Creek Mps No 4
Where does the data for Mill Creek Mps No 4 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 Mill Creek Mps No 4.