Mckee City Reservoir dam
Mckee City Reservoir
Mckee City Reservoir in Kentucky, nestled along the Middle Fork Rockcastle River, serves as a vital water supply for the local community in McKee. Constructed in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 230 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 4 acres and has a drainage area of 1.07 square miles, providing essential water resources for the region.
Despite its critical role in water supply, Mckee City Reservoir poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment as of January 2017. The dam's spillway, designed as uncontrolled with a width of 24 feet, heightens concerns about potential risks. Although the reservoir's risk assessment is moderate, with a score of 3, ongoing maintenance and inspection are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of this important water infrastructure.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, Mckee City Reservoir undergoes regular state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to uphold regulatory standards. As climate change impacts water resources, the reservoir's significance in supplying clean water to the community underscores the importance of proactive risk management and maintenance measures to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure a resilient water supply for future generations.
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 Mckee City Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Creek At Cressmont | 3 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg | 357 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 12 Near Irvine | · | → |
| South Fork Kentucky River At Booneville | 78 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Kentucky River At Tallega | 50 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 11 Near College Hill | 428 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckee City Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Radford Hollow Road 145, Madison County
- Ky 399 Heidelberg
- Main Street Irvine
- Water Street Beattyville
- Battleground Road Livingston
- Jackson Road Beattyville
Campgrounds
- Turkey Foot Campground
- Turkey Foot Rec Area
- Turkey Foot Campground Free
- S-Tree Campground
- S-Tree Campground Free
- S - Tree Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Long Bend Fishing Site
- Fishing Point
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Turkey Foot Campground To Confluence With South Fork Of Station Camp Creek
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
Track Mckee City Reservoir 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 Mckee City Reservoir
Where does the data for Mckee City Reservoir 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 Mckee City Reservoir.