Vance Mills Lake Dam A dam
Vance Mills Lake Dam A
Vance Mills Lake Dam A, located in Laurel County, Kentucky, was completed in 1971 and serves as a vital recreational resource for the surrounding community. This earth dam stands at 48 feet in height and spans 325 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet. Situated on the Little Robinson Creek, this dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Vance Mills Lake Dam A poses no immediate threat to public safety. Although its condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam is deemed to be in satisfactory condition overall. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, along with its designated emergency action plan, enhances its ability to manage potential risks effectively. Additionally, the dam's owner, a private entity, plays a crucial role in the maintenance and operation of this essential water resource infrastructure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the significance of dams like Vance Mills Lake Dam A in providing not only recreational opportunities but also water storage and flood control benefits to the local community. By staying informed about the regulatory oversight, inspection frequency, and emergency preparedness measures in place for such structures, we can help ensure the continued safety and resilience of our water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Vance Mills Lake Dam A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lynn Camp Creek At Corbin | 4 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Manchester | 25 cfs | → |
| Rockcastle River At Billows | 35 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Williamsburg | 379 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River At Cumberland Falls | 449 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork At Saxton | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vance Mills Lake Dam A.
Boat launches
- Whitley County
- Grove Whitley County
- I 75 Rockcastle County
- Ky 3497 Laurel County
- Battleground Road Livingston
- Redbird Road Whitley County
Campgrounds
- Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
- Clay County Campground
- White Oak Boat-In Campground
- Grove Boat-In Campground
- Grove Drive-In Campground
- Grove Rec Area
Paddle runs
- 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
- Turkey Foot Campground To Confluence With South Fork Of Station Camp Creek
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
Track Vance Mills Lake Dam A 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 Vance Mills Lake Dam A
Where does the data for Vance Mills Lake Dam A 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 Vance Mills Lake Dam A.