Gess Property Lake Dam dam
Gess Property Lake Dam
Gess Property Lake Dam, also known as Pond 5, is a local government-owned structure located in Lexington, Kentucky. Designed by EA Partners, PLC, this earth-type dam stands at 17 feet high and spans 500 feet in length. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet and a surface area of 5.4 acres. The dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its fair condition and low hazard potential.
Despite its low hazard potential, Gess Property Lake Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, and there is no record of inundation maps or updated emergency contacts for the site. The structure has not been modified in recent years, and its inspection frequency is set at every 5 years. While the dam currently meets guidelines, there is room for improvement in terms of emergency preparedness and overall risk assessment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gess Property Lake Dam presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of infrastructure, water management, and environmental risk. As a vital tool in flood risk reduction, this dam serves as a case study in the importance of proper maintenance, inspection, and emergency planning for water infrastructure projects. With its relatively low hazard potential but moderate risk level, there is a need for ongoing monitoring and proactive risk management to ensure the safety and resilience of this essential structure in Fayette County, Kentucky.
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 Gess Property Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryant Rd Nr Cadentown | 0 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Winchester Rd Nr Lexington | 17 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryan Station Rd At Montrose | 27 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester | 541 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View | 522 cfs | → |
| Wolf Run At Old Frankfort Pike At Lexington | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gess Property Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tates Creek Road 3302, Madison County
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- Paris Pike Georgetown
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Wilgreen Lake Road Madison County
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
Campgrounds
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Kentucky Horse Park Campgrounds
- Kentucky Horse Park Campground
- Camp On The Kentucky
- Logan-Hubble County Park
Fishing spots
- Boat Launch
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
Paddle runs
Track Gess Property Lake 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 Gess Property Lake Dam
Where does the data for Gess Property Lake 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 Gess Property Lake Dam.