Shakespear Cole Lake Dam dam
Shakespear Cole Lake Dam
Shakespear Cole Lake Dam is a privately owned structure located in Bernice, Kentucky, within Clay County. Built in 1967, this earth dam stands at 27 feet tall and stretches 210 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 36 acre-feet of water. While its primary purpose is for recreation, the dam also serves as a vital resource for the surrounding community. The dam's hazard potential is considered significant, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, and it lacks an emergency action plan. Although the dam has not been inspected recently, it is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about its status. With its location on Tr- Jacks Branch and its uncontrolled spillway type, the dam plays a vital role in managing water flow and providing recreational opportunities in the area.
As a significant structure in the region, Shakespear Cole Lake Dam presents both opportunities and risks for the community. Climate change and increasing water demands make it essential to monitor and maintain dams like Shakespear Cole Lake Dam to ensure their safety and functionality. Water resource and climate enthusiasts should advocate for regular inspections, emergency preparedness, and risk management measures to safeguard this important infrastructure and its surrounding 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 Shakespear Cole Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek At Manchester | 25 cfs | → |
| South Fork Kentucky River At Booneville | 102 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon Creek At Cressmont | 4 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg | 463 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Kentucky River At Tallega | 52 cfs | → |
| Lynn Camp Creek At Corbin | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shakespear Cole Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Marina Lane 231, Perry County
- Ky 399 Heidelberg
- Water Street Beattyville
- Battleground Road Livingston
- Jackson Road Beattyville
- I 75 Rockcastle County
Campgrounds
- Clay County Campground
- Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
- Buckhorn Dam Rec Area - Buckhorn Lake
- Turkey Foot Rec Area
- Turkey Foot Campground
- Turkey Foot Campground Free
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 Shakespear Cole 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 Shakespear Cole Lake Dam
Where does the data for Shakespear Cole 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 Significant 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 Shakespear Cole Lake Dam.