Norton Commons Dam dam
Norton Commons Dam
Norton Commons Dam, located in Louisville, Kentucky, was completed in 2002 by SABAK, WILSON & LINGO, INC. This privately owned earth dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction in Jefferson County. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 240 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 39 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 9 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.4 acres. The dam is regulated by the KY Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment in 2016, Norton Commons Dam continues to provide critical flood risk reduction for the surrounding area. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and is situated within a drainage area of 0.12 square miles. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to mitigate potential hazards. In the event of an emergency, the dam is equipped with an emergency action plan (EAP) to guide response and evacuation procedures.
Overall, Norton Commons Dam stands as a vital infrastructure asset in the region, protecting against flooding and ensuring the safety of nearby communities. As climate change poses increasing challenges to water resource management, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Norton Commons are essential to safeguarding against the impacts of extreme weather events. With proper oversight and adherence to regulatory requirements, Norton Commons Dam will continue to play a crucial role in flood risk reduction efforts in Jefferson County.
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 Norton Commons Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Harrods Creek At Highway 329 Nr Goshen | 136 cfs | → |
| Little Goose Creek Near Harrods Creek | 30 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Us Hwy 42 Near Glenview Acres | 7 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Old Westport Rd Nr St Matthews | 6 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork Near Pewee Valley | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Muddy Fk At Mockingbird Valley Rd At Louisville | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Norton Commons Dam.
Boat launches
- Charlestown State Park Boat Ramp
- Long Run Lake Boat Ramp
- Harrison Avenue 1021, Clarksville
- Westport Park Boat Ramp
- North 27th Street Louisville
- Grange Drive 1412, La Grange
Campgrounds
- Charlestown State Park
- Lake Jericho Recreation Area
- Deam Lake State Rec Area
- Deam Lake Campground
- Lake Shelby Campground
- Guist Creek Lake County Park
Paddle runs
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Norton Commons 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 Norton Commons Dam
Where does the data for Norton Commons 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 Norton Commons Dam.