Shadwell Farms dam
Shadwell Farms
Shadwell Farms, located in Scott County, Kentucky, is a private irrigation structure regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water. Constructed in 1963 by the Soil Conservation Service, this earth dam on South Elkhorn Creek serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a storage capacity of 43.6 acre-feet and a surface area of 1.5 acres. The dam stands at 28 feet high and spans 310 feet in length, providing essential water resources for agricultural activities in the area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Shadwell Farms is subject to regular inspections every five years, with the last assessment conducted in April 2013. The dam's condition is currently rated as "Not Rated," but its risk assessment is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures. With its scenic location and vital role in supporting water resources for agricultural irrigation, Shadwell Farms stands as a testament to sustainable water management practices in the region.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Shadwell Farms plays a crucial role in the management of water resources in the Forks of Elkhorn community. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s and its continued operation under the oversight of the Kentucky Division of Water, this earth dam serves as a valuable asset for the region's agricultural sector. By ensuring the proper maintenance and monitoring of this structure, water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the vital role that Shadwell Farms plays in sustaining agricultural productivity and environmental stewardship in Scott County, 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 Shadwell Farms -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Elkhorn Creek Near Midway | 53 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort | 814 cfs | → |
| North Elkhorn Creek At Georgetown | 77 cfs | → |
| Town Branch At Yarnallton Road At Yarnallton | 33 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone | 896 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shadwell Farms.
Boat launches
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Paris Pike Georgetown
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
- Hinton Sadieville Road Sadieville
- Oregon Landing Road Mercer County
Track Shadwell Farms 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 Shadwell Farms
Where does the data for Shadwell Farms 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 Shadwell Farms.