Shaw Creek Detention Basin dam
Shaw Creek Detention Basin
Shaw Creek Detention Basin, located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is a crucial infrastructure designed by Jacob Harman, PE, to address flood risk reduction in the region. Completed in 2009, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans a length of 900 feet, providing storage of 172.6 acre-feet to help manage excess water during heavy rainfall events. The basin covers a surface area of 3.71 acres and serves a drainage area of 1.36 square miles, making it a significant asset in safeguarding the community against potential flooding.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, Shaw Creek Detention Basin is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is assessed as satisfactory in condition, with a moderate risk rating. The last inspection in June 2017 confirmed its operational readiness, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to uphold its flood control capabilities. The presence of this detention basin underscores the proactive approach taken by local government authorities to mitigate flood risks and protect the surrounding area from water-related threats.
With its strategic location along Shaw Creek and effective flood risk reduction design, Shaw Creek Detention Basin serves as a vital component of the water resource management infrastructure in Hardin County, Kentucky. Supported by state permitting and regulatory agencies, this earth dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community from potential inundation events. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns, the importance of such structures in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks cannot be overstated, making Shaw Creek Detention Basin a key asset in the region's resilience against extreme weather events.
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 Shaw Creek Detention Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling Fork Near Boston | 78 cfs | → |
| North Fork Nolin River At Hodgenville | 19 cfs | → |
| Nolin River At White Mills | 74 cfs | → |
| Long Lick At Clermont | 1 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Shepherdsville | 225 cfs | → |
| Brier Creek At Pendelton Road Near Louisville | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shaw Creek Detention Basin.
Boat launches
- Porter River Road Hardin County
- Bullitt County Boat Ramp
- Briggs Webb Road 1498, Hart County
- Pine Springs Road 668, Grayson County
- Lakeview Circle Grayson County
- Greenwood Road 8203, Louisville
Campgrounds
- Camp Carlson Military - Fort Knox
- Salt River Recreation Park
- Salt River Rec Area
- South Harrison Co Park
- My Old Kentucky Home State Park
- Wax - Nolin River Lake
Track Shaw Creek Detention Basin 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 Shaw Creek Detention Basin
Where does the data for Shaw Creek Detention Basin 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 Shaw Creek Detention Basin.