Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8 dam
Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8
Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8, located in Jessamine, Kentucky, serves as a vital water resource structure for the state. Completed in 1900, this Timber Crib dam stands at a height of 31 feet and boasts a storage capacity of 14,020 acre-feet, with a drainage area of 4,414 square miles. The dam primarily serves the purpose of navigation on the Kentucky River, contributing to the effective management and regulation of water flow in the region.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, this state-regulated dam has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition following its last inspection in December 2017. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and flood control efforts in the area. The structure's presence highlights the intersection of engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship in maintaining a balance between water utilization and conservation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8 stands as a testament to the importance of infrastructure in sustaining water ecosystems and ensuring efficient water transportation. With its historical significance and ongoing role in water management, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the interconnectedness of human activity and natural resources, emphasizing the need for responsible stewardship to safeguard our waterways for future generations.
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 River Lock & Dam 8 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson | 407 cfs | → |
| Dix River Near Danville | 3 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 7 At Highbridge | 3,540 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View | 430 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 6 Near Salvisa | 555 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester | 462 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8.
Boat launches
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- Lakeside Drive 1098, Garrard County
- Tates Creek Road 3302, Madison County
- Wilgreen Lake Road Madison County
- Salt River Park Harrodsburg
- Oregon Landing Road Mercer County
Campgrounds
- Logan-Hubble County Park
- Camp On The Kentucky
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Kentucky Horse Park Campground
- Kentucky Horse Park Campgrounds
- Renfro Valley Boat Dock
Track Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8 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 River Lock & Dam 8
Where does the data for Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8 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 Significant 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 River Lock & Dam 8.