Kentucky Mulch Dam dam
Kentucky Mulch Dam
Kentucky Mulch Dam, also known as The Hughes Group, is a privately owned structure located in the Clay City area of Powell, Kentucky. Built in 1989 by Challenge Engineering Inc., this earth dam stands at 25 feet high and spans 350 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 80.8 acre-feet. Situated on Bush Creek, the dam serves a crucial role in water resource management for the surrounding area, regulating water flow and providing flood control measures.
Despite its importance, Kentucky Mulch Dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a low hazard potential. The last inspection in April 2018 revealed the need for maintenance and potential repairs to ensure the dam's structural integrity. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, there is a pressing need for risk management measures to be implemented to mitigate any potential threats to the dam's stability and functionality. The Kentucky Division of Water oversees the regulation, inspection, and enforcement of this dam, ensuring compliance with state standards and protocols to safeguard water resources and protect the community.
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 Kentucky Mulch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River At Clay City | 43 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 11 Near College Hill | 428 cfs | → |
| Slate Creek At Highway 713 Nr Mt. Sterling | 34 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 12 Near Irvine | · | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester | 462 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg | 357 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kentucky Mulch Dam.
Boat launches
- East Lake Avenue Clay City
- 7th Avenue Clay City
- College Hill Road Madison County
- Main Street Irvine
- Natural Bridge Road Powell County
- Copperas Creek Canoe Launch
Campgrounds
- Callies
- Natural Bridge State Park
- Tunnel Ridge Road
- Koomer Ridge Campground
- Koomer Ridge Rec Area
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
Fishing spots
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
- Boat Launch
Paddle runs
Track Kentucky Mulch 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 Kentucky Mulch Dam
Where does the data for Kentucky Mulch 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 Kentucky Mulch Dam.