Cap & Ed Hays Dam dam
Cap & Ed Hays Dam
Cap & Ed Hays Dam, also known as Hays & Cap Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Jackson, Kentucky. Built in 1966, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and spans 400 feet in length. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, offering a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 6.2 acres.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, the risk assessment for Cap & Ed Hays Dam indicates a moderate level of risk, with a moderate risk management measure in place. The last inspection was conducted in July 2011, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 5 years.
Situated along the TR-FLAT LICK CREEK and under the jurisdiction of the Nashville District, Cap & Ed Hays Dam offers a tranquil recreational spot in the Grey Hawk area of Kentucky. With its picturesque surroundings and moderate risk level, this dam serves as an essential water resource for the community while providing opportunities for outdoor activities and enjoyment for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Cap & Ed Hays Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon Creek At Cressmont | 4 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg | 463 cfs | → |
| South Fork Kentucky River At Booneville | 102 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Manchester | 25 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 12 Near Irvine | · | → |
| Middle Fork Kentucky River At Tallega | 52 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cap & Ed Hays Dam.
Boat launches
- Ky 399 Heidelberg
- Battleground Road Livingston
- Radford Hollow Road 145, Madison County
- Water Street Beattyville
- I 75 Rockcastle County
- Jackson Road Beattyville
Campgrounds
- Turkey Foot Rec Area
- Turkey Foot Campground
- 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 Cap & Ed Hays 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 Cap & Ed Hays Dam
Where does the data for Cap & Ed Hays 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 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 Cap & Ed Hays Dam.