Ensign Bickford Dam dam
Ensign Bickford Dam
Ensign Bickford Dam, also known as Ensign Bickford Lake, is a private-owned structure located in Muhlenberg, Kentucky, along the Thompson Creek tributary. Completed in 1995, this Earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a storage capacity of 118.2 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 105 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 19 feet and spans 550 feet in length, creating a surface area of 12.8 acres within its drainage area of 0.08 square miles.
Despite being regulated and inspected by the Kentucky Division of Water, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with a low hazard potential and moderate risk level. The last inspection was conducted in 2008, with an inspection frequency of 5 years. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and lacks associated structures such as outlet gates. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, the dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are not readily available, suggesting a need for updated safety protocols and monitoring systems to ensure the dam's integrity and public safety.
Ensign Bickford Dam, nestled in the scenic Kentucky landscape, presents a unique blend of historical significance and contemporary water resource management challenges. With its rich irrigation history and modern engineering design, the dam beckons water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore its intricate features and the complex interplay between human intervention and natural forces. As efforts to enhance the dam's safety and operational efficiency continue, the Ensign Bickford Dam stands as a beacon of resilience and innovation in the realm of sustainable water resource management.
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 Ensign Bickford Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pond River Near Apex | 15 cfs | → |
| Green River At Paradise | 888 cfs | → |
| Green River At Lock 2 At Calhoun | 795 cfs | → |
| Tradewater River At Olney | 18 cfs | → |
| South Fork Panther Creek Near Whitesville | 36 cfs | → |
| Caney Creek Near Horse Branch | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ensign Bickford Dam.
Boat launches
Track Ensign Bickford 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 Ensign Bickford Dam
Where does the data for Ensign Bickford 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 Ensign Bickford Dam.