Bonita Lake dam
Bonita Lake
Bonita Lake, also known as Lake Bonita, is a private water resource located in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, this recreational lake was completed in 1947 and has a storage capacity of 111 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 75 acre-feet. The dam, an earth structure standing at 27 feet high and 220 feet long, controls the flow of Chadwick Creek and covers a surface area of 6.5 acres.
Despite its picturesque setting, Bonita Lake has been rated as having a high hazard potential due to poor condition assessment as of June 2018. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 60 feet wide, adds to the risk associated with the structure. While the lake offers recreational opportunities, such as boating and fishing, its current state highlights the importance of ongoing maintenance and inspection to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding community. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate should keep an eye on future updates regarding Bonita Lake to support its preservation and responsible management.
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 Bonita Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Ironton | 40,000 cfs | → |
| Little Sandy River At Grayson | 56 cfs | → |
| Symmes Creek At Aid Oh | 27 cfs | → |
| Tygarts Creek Near Greenup | 13 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Greenup Dam Near Greenup | 41,000 cfs | → |
| East Fork Twelvepole Creek Near Dunlow | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bonita Lake.
Boat launches
- Village South Point
- 16th Street Ashland
- Center Street Landing
- Symmes Creek Boat Ramp
- Indian Guyan Creek Access
- Lake Vesuvius Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Oak Hill Campground
- Iron Ridge Campground
- Pine Knob Loop
- Two Point Group Campground
- Timbre Ridge Lake
- Johson Homeplace
Track Bonita Lake 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 Bonita Lake
Where does the data for Bonita Lake 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 Bonita Lake.