Elk Lake Dam dam
Elk Lake Dam
Elk Lake Dam, located in Lusbys Mill vicinity, Kentucky, is a privately owned structure built in 1959 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, designed by Covington, Kentucky and O.G. Loomis & Sons, stands at a height of 43 feet and spans 550 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 3,373 acre-feet. Situated on Elk Creek, the dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment in 2017, Elk Lake Dam continues to provide recreational opportunities for visitors, with a surface area of 207 acres and a drainage area of 5.47 square miles. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 112 feet, allowing for the release of excess water during periods of high flow. While the risk assessment categorizes the dam's risk level as moderate, with a DSAC assignment date currently unavailable, it is crucial for emergency preparedness measures to be in place to mitigate potential risks associated with the dam.
With Congressman Thomas Massie representing the area, Elk Lake Dam's importance lies not only in its recreational value but also in its role in water resource management and climate resilience. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate, understanding the condition and management of dams like Elk Lake Dam is vital for promoting the sustainable use of water resources and ensuring the safety of communities downstream in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Elk Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest | 909 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 2 At Lockport | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Sadieville | 208 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Glencoe | 344 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
| North Elkhorn Creek At Georgetown | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elk Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hinton Sadieville Road Sadieville
- Boltz Lake Road 399, Grant County
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
- Robinson Road 2794, Harrison County
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Craigs Creek Boat Ramp
Track Elk Lake 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 Elk Lake Dam
Where does the data for Elk Lake 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 Significant 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 Elk Lake Dam.