Mays Lake Dam dam
Mays Lake Dam
Mays Lake Dam, located in Pendleton, Kentucky, serves as a vital water resource for the area, specifically for recreational purposes. Completed in 1970, this earth dam stands at 30 feet high and stretches 300 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 74.6 acre-feet. The dam overlooks Willow Creek and covers a surface area of 4.6 acres, providing a serene setting for outdoor activities.
Managed by a private entity, Mays Lake Dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water to ensure compliance with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam's risk assessment categorizes it as moderate. The last inspection took place in May 2017, with a scheduled frequency of every 5 years to monitor its structural integrity and safety measures.
With the risk management measures and emergency action plan still to be determined, Mays Lake Dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to understand the impact of such infrastructure on the surrounding environment. The dam's role in providing recreational opportunities while managing the flow of Willow Creek underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring its condition for the benefit of the community and ecosystem 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 Mays Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Licking River At Catawba | 3,190 cfs | → |
| Twelvemile Creek At Highway 1997 Nr Alexandria | 48 cfs | → |
| Cruises Creek At Hwy 17 Nr Piner | 9 cfs | → |
| South Fork Licking River At Hayes | 3,690 cfs | → |
| Fourmile Creek At Poplar Ridge Rd Nr Alexandria | 11 cfs | → |
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 Nr Erlanger | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mays Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Race Track Road Campbell County
- Kincaid Lake State Park Road Pendleton County
- Moscow Boat Ramp
- Neville Boat Ramp Launch
- Lanes End Mentor
- Chilo Lock No. 34 Park
Track Mays 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 Mays Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mays 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 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 Mays Lake Dam.