Duncan Nave Dam dam
Duncan Nave Dam
Duncan Nave Dam, also known as Lake Mingo, is a local government-owned structure located in Nicholasville, Kentucky. Completed in 1930, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans a length of 500 feet, with a capacity to store up to 33 acre-feet of water. Situated on the TR-Town Fork river, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 2.3 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its recreational appeal, Duncan Nave Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed as being in poor condition as of November 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 13 feet, and while it has undergone state regulation, permitting, and inspection, its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk (3). Located in Jessamine County, Kentucky, this dam is under the jurisdiction of the KY Division of Water and falls within the Louisville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Duncan Nave Dam to be an intriguing structure with a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. Despite its recreational benefits, the dam's high hazard potential and poor condition underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding community. With its scenic location on the TR-Town Fork river, Duncan Nave Dam remains a popular destination for outdoor recreation while also serving as a reminder of the vital role that proper dam management plays in safeguarding water resources and mitigating potential risks associated with dam infrastructure.
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 Duncan Nave Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View | 522 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 7 At Highbridge | 3,540 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson | 463 cfs | → |
| South Elkhorn Creek At Fort Spring | 15 cfs | → |
| Wolf Run At Old Frankfort Pike At Lexington | 11 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryant Rd Nr Cadentown | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Duncan Nave Dam.
Boat launches
- Tates Creek Road 3302, Madison County
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- Oregon Landing Road Mercer County
- Wilgreen Lake Road Madison County
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
- Lakeside Drive 1098, Garrard County
Campgrounds
- Camp On The Kentucky
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Kentucky Horse Park Campground
- Kentucky Horse Park Campgrounds
- Logan-Hubble County Park
Paddle runs
Track Duncan Nave 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 Duncan Nave Dam
Where does the data for Duncan Nave 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 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 Duncan Nave Dam.