Barkley Lock And Dam dam
Barkley Lock And Dam
Barkley Lock and Dam, also known as Lake Barkley, is a federal-owned structure located in Lyon, Kentucky, along the Cumberland River. Completed in 1966, this gravity dam serves primarily for navigation purposes, but also supports fish and wildlife pond management, flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply. With a hydraulic height of 109 feet and a structural height of 157 feet, the dam has a length of 10,180 feet and a storage capacity of 2,082,000 acre-feet.
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Barkley Lock and Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its role in flood risk management. The Corps continually monitors the dam's condition, implements risk management measures, and updates emergency action plans to ensure public safety in the event of a dam-related emergency. Despite its vital role in water management, the dam has limited storage capacity and may release water to manage levels or relieve pressure during severe weather events. The Corps collaborates with local emergency managers to develop evacuation plans and perform regular maintenance to maintain the dam's integrity.
Inundation maps, risk assessments, and emergency contact information are readily available for Barkley Lock and Dam, showcasing the Corps' commitment to transparency and preparedness. As a key infrastructure on the Cumberland River, the dam plays a critical role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. The ongoing efforts to manage flood risks and ensure the dam's functionality highlight the importance of proactive risk management and community engagement in safeguarding water resources and infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Barkley Lock And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks River At Almo | 63 cfs | → |
| Massac Creek Near Paducah | 1 cfs | → |
| Tradewater River At Olney | 731 cfs | → |
| Clarks River At Murray | 15 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Metropolis | 444,000 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Cadiz | 485 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barkley Lock And Dam.
Boat launches
- Forest Service Road 102-A Lyon County
- Little Bear Highway 3182, Marshall County
- Forest Service Road 111-A Lyon County
- Buckhorn Bay Park Marshall County
- Marshall County
- Forest Service Road 115-C Lyon County
Campgrounds
- Nickell Branch Basic Campground - Land Between The Lakes
- Demumbers Bay Backcountry Area & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Birmangham Ferry Backcountry Area & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Cravens Bay Campground & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Fenton Campground & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Pearcy Camp
Fishing spots
- Whoopie Cat Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- Dutchman Lake
- Lake Of Egypt
Paddle runs
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
Track Barkley Lock And 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 Barkley Lock And Dam
Where does the data for Barkley Lock And 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 Barkley Lock And Dam.