Buechel Basin #3 dam
Buechel Basin #3
Buechel Basin #3, located in Louisville, Kentucky, is a local government-owned earth dam completed in 2015 for flood risk reduction purposes. This dam has a height of 10 feet, a length of 3600 feet, and a storage capacity of 212 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 167.4 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.2 acres, Buechel Basin #3 plays a vital role in managing water resources in Jefferson County.
Managed by the KY Division of Water, Buechel Basin #3 is classified as having a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition based on a 2018 assessment. The dam has a spillway type of uncontrolled, and its inspection frequency is set at every three years. Even though it poses a moderate risk, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan readiness are not explicitly specified in the available data, highlighting areas that may require further attention and improvement to ensure the safety and resilience of the structure.
Overall, Buechel Basin #3 serves as an essential infrastructure asset in the region, contributing to flood risk reduction efforts and water resource management in Jefferson County. Its location in a populated area underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and preparedness to mitigate potential risks and safeguard the community and surrounding environment from the impacts of extreme weather events and climate variability.
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 Buechel Basin #3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ditch At Okolona | 21 cfs | → |
| South Fork Beargrass Creek At Louisville | 27 cfs | → |
| Fern Creek At Old Bardstown Rd At Louisville | 5 cfs | → |
| M Fk Beargrass Cr At Old Cannons Ln At Louisville | 34 cfs | → |
| M Fk Beargrass Cr At Lexington Rd At Louisville | 70 cfs | → |
| Pennslyvania Run At Mt Washington Rd Nr Louisville | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buechel Basin #3.
Boat launches
- Cooper Chapel Road Louisville
- North 27th Street Louisville
- Harrison Avenue 1021, Clarksville
- Lasater Road Louisville
- Ohio River Greenway 100-598, New Albany
- Greenwood Road 8203, Louisville
Campgrounds
- Salt River Rec Area
- Charlestown State Park
- Salt River Recreation Park
- South Harrison Co Park
- Deam Lake State Rec Area
- Deam Lake Campground
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 Buechel Basin #3 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 Buechel Basin #3
Where does the data for Buechel Basin #3 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 Buechel Basin #3.