Big Bone Lick State Park Dam dam
Big Bone Lick State Park Dam
Big Bone Lick State Park Dam, located in Boone, Kentucky, serves as a vital recreational resource for water and climate enthusiasts. Built in 1971 with a height of 70 feet and a length of 490 feet, this earth dam creates Big Bone Lick State Park Lake, offering a surface area of 9.6 acres for visitors to enjoy. Despite its poor condition assessment in 2017, the dam's hazard potential is low, providing a safe environment for recreational activities.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, the dam is state-regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure public safety. With a maximum storage capacity of 218 acre-feet and normal storage of 185 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. The spillway, with a width of 10 feet, is uncontrolled, further enhancing the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Although the dam's condition may be deemed poor, the risk assessment remains at a moderate level (3), indicating that appropriate risk management measures are in place. Big Bone Lick State Park Dam stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of human recreation and environmental conservation, making it a must-visit destination for those passionate about water resources and climate preservation.
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 Big Bone Lick State Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mud Lick Cr At Hwy 42 Nr Beaverlick | 318 cfs | → |
| Gunpowder Cr At Camp Ernst Rd Nr Union | 353 cfs | → |
| Woolper Creek At Woolper Road Near Burlington | 74 cfs | → |
| Cruises Creek At Hwy 17 Nr Piner | 9 cfs | → |
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 Nr Erlanger | 84 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Glencoe | 344 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Bone Lick State Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Indiana 156 2791, Patriot
- Arnold Creek Ramp
- Indiana 156 18249, Patriot
- Craigs Creek Boat Ramp
- Boltz Lake Road 399, Grant County
- Ohio River Scenic Byway 248-252, Aurora
Campgrounds
- Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
- Big Bone Lick State Park
- Bullock Pen Lake Ramp - Dfwr
- Boltz Lake Ramp - Dfwr
- Sparta Campground
- Paul Ogle Riverfront Park
Fishing spots
Track Big Bone Lick State Park 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 Big Bone Lick State Park Dam
Where does the data for Big Bone Lick State Park 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 Big Bone Lick State Park Dam.