James C Harris Dam dam
James C Harris Dam
James C Harris Dam, also known as Stanford Reservoir (New), is a vital water supply infrastructure located in Stanford, Kentucky. The dam, completed in 1989, stands at a height of 72 feet and stretches 640 feet in length, serving the primary purpose of providing water to the surrounding community. With a storage capacity of 1432.35 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 807 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in ensuring water availability for residents and agricultural needs in the area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, James C Harris Dam is classified as an earth dam with an uncontrolled spillway type. The dam's condition assessment in 2017 rated it as fair, with a high hazard potential and moderate risk level. Despite the risk, the dam continues to be maintained and inspected regularly, with the last inspection conducted in June 2017. With its strategic location on the Dix River, the dam contributes to the overall water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
In terms of design, the dam was created by MAYES, SUDDERTH & ETHEREDGE LEXINGTON KY., showcasing expertise and innovation in water infrastructure engineering. Along with its functional role in water supply, James C Harris Dam also contributes to the environmental and ecological balance of the area, providing essential water resources for the surrounding ecosystem. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the presence of well-maintained dams like James C Harris Dam becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable water management and adaptation to changing climate 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 James C Harris Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Green River Near Mckinney | 0 cfs | → |
| Dix River Near Danville | 3 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson | 407 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Shopville | 5 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 7 At Highbridge | 3,540 cfs | → |
| Rockcastle River At Billows | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near James C Harris Dam.
Boat launches
- Boone Road Lincoln County
- Lakeside Drive 1098, Garrard County
- Lake Liberty Street Casey County
- Salt River Park Harrodsburg
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- Wilgreen Lake Road Madison County
Campgrounds
- Logan-Hubble County Park
- Renfro Valley Boat Dock
- Fishing Creek - Lake Cumberland
- Camp On The Kentucky
- Fall Creek - Lake Cumberland
- Waitsboro - Lake Cumberland
Paddle runs
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- Turkey Foot Campground To Confluence With South Fork Of Station Camp Creek
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
Track James C Harris 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 James C Harris Dam
Where does the data for James C Harris 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 James C Harris Dam.