Ralph Waldrop Lake (East) dam
Ralph Waldrop Lake (East)
Ralph Waldrop Lake (East), also known as Waldrop Lake, is a private reservoir located in Graves County, Kentucky, near the city of Mayfield. The lake was completed in 1965 for recreational purposes and has a surface area of 7.49 acres, with a maximum storage capacity of 91 acre-feet. Situated along the TR-Little Mayfield Creek, the dam is of earth construction type, standing at a height of 21 feet and a length of 500 feet.
Despite its primary purpose for recreation, Ralph Waldrop Lake (East) poses a high hazard potential due to its condition assessment being rated as poor. In 2018, the last inspection revealed the need for significant improvements to ensure the safety and stability of the dam. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, there is a pressing need for risk management measures to be implemented to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the protection of the surrounding area.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, Ralph Waldrop Lake (East) serves as a vital water resource for the region, but its current state warrants attention to address safety concerns. As a destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts, the lake's scenic surroundings and recreational opportunities are juxtaposed with the need for proactive measures to enhance its structural integrity and mitigate risks associated with its high hazard potential.
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 Ralph Waldrop Lake (East) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks River At Almo | 63 cfs | → |
| Clarks River At Murray | 15 cfs | → |
| Bayou De Chien Near Clinton | 947 cfs | → |
| Massac Creek Near Paducah | 1 cfs | → |
| North Fork Obion River Near Martin | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Metropolis | 444,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ralph Waldrop Lake (East).
Boat launches
- Aurora Highway Marshall County
- Marshall County
- Us 68 13482, Marshall County
- Jefferson Davis Highway 12720, Marshall County
- Big Bear Public Boat Ramp
- Buckhorn Bay Park Marshall County
Campgrounds
- Pearcy Camp
- Fenton Campground & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Birmangham Ferry Backcountry Area & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Nickell Branch Basic Campground - Land Between The Lakes
- Rushing Creek - Lbl
- Demumbers Bay Backcountry Area & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
Paddle runs
Track Ralph Waldrop Lake (East) 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 Ralph Waldrop Lake (East)
Where does the data for Ralph Waldrop Lake (East) 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 Ralph Waldrop Lake (East).