Whippoorwill Lake Dam dam
Whippoorwill Lake Dam
Whippoorwill Lake Dam, located in Franklin, Kentucky, is a private-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and spans 420 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 68.94 acre-feet with a normal storage of 59.1 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the South Benson Creek, within the Louisville District, and is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Whippoorwill Lake Dam has been assessed as unsatisfactory in condition as of January 2018. The dam is subject to regular inspections every 5 years, with the last inspection revealing the need for improvement. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there are no emergency action plans in place, raising concerns for potential risks associated with the dam's operation and maintenance. Given its location and the surrounding area's drainage characteristics, ensuring the proper management and maintenance of Whippoorwill Lake Dam is crucial for mitigating any potential threats to downstream communities and the environment.
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 Whippoorwill Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort | 814 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone | 896 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Glensboro | 16 cfs | → |
| South Elkhorn Creek Near Midway | 53 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest | 909 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whippoorwill Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
- Beaver Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Oregon Landing Road Mercer County
- Van Buren Road Anderson County
Track Whippoorwill 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 Whippoorwill Lake Dam
Where does the data for Whippoorwill 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 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 Whippoorwill Lake Dam.