Wolf Creek Dam dam
Wolf Creek Dam
Wolf Creek Dam, also known as Lake Cumberland, is a gravity dam located in Kentucky's Russell County. Completed in 1951, the dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply. With a structural height of 258 feet and a storage capacity of over 6 million acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its importance, Wolf Creek Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential due to concerns about overtopping and potential structural issues with its Tainter gates. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has implemented risk management measures to address these issues, including a major investment in dam safety, regular inspections, and emergency preparedness plans. Additionally, USACE is currently working on replacing all ten spillway gates to ensure the dam's continued safe operation.
With a population at risk of over 130,000 in the event of a dam failure, the ongoing efforts by USACE to monitor, maintain, and improve Wolf Creek Dam are critical for ensuring the safety and stability of this vital water resource infrastructure. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the intricate balance of managing risks and maintaining functionality in the face of potential challenges.
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 Wolf Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Near Monticello | 6 cfs | → |
| Wolf River Near Byrdstown | 17 cfs | → |
| Russell Creek Near Columbia | 14 cfs | → |
| East Fork Obey River Near Jamestown | 11 cfs | → |
| West Fork Obey River Near Alpine | 12 cfs | → |
| South Fork Cumberland River Near Stearns | 135 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wolf Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Russell County
- Riverbrook Trail Cumberland County
- State Park Road Clinton County
- Cumberland County
- Tennessee 111, Byrdstown
- Taylor County
Campgrounds
- Halcombs Landing - Dfwr
- Kendall Rec Area - Lake Cumberland
- Ryans Camp Ramp - Dfwr
- Lake Cumberland State Park
- Dale Hollow State Park
- Cumberland Point - Lake Cumberland
Paddle runs
- Tn/Ky State Line To White Oak Junction
- Kentucky Road 679 To Confluence Of Cumberland River
- Kentucky Road 478 To Kentucky Road 679
- 4 Miles Downstream From The Kentucky Highway 90 Bridge To Confluence With Cane Creek
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- U.S. 127 Bridge To Morgan County Line
Track Wolf Creek 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 Wolf Creek Dam
Where does the data for Wolf Creek 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 Wolf Creek Dam.