Martins Fork Dam dam
Martins Fork Dam
Martins Fork Dam, also known as Martins Fork Lake, is a gravity dam located in Harlan, Kentucky, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1978 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam has a hydraulic height of 97 feet and a structural height of 120 feet. With a storage capacity of 21,100 acre-feet and a surface area of 340 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks along the Martins Fork of the Cumberland River.
The dam's risk potential is rated as high, prompting the USACE to implement various risk management measures to ensure its structural integrity and enhance public safety. These measures include regular monitoring, maintenance, and repairs, as well as collaboration with local emergency managers to develop emergency action plans and evacuation procedures. The USACE also engages with the public to raise awareness of the dam and promote readiness in the event of a dam-related emergency. Despite the inherent risks associated with dams, the USACE's proactive approach aims to address and reduce potential flood risks associated with Martins Fork Dam.
As an enthusiast of water resources and climate, Martins Fork Dam stands out as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction in Kentucky. Its multi-arch gravity design and uncontrolled spillway underscore the importance of effective water management in mitigating potential hazards. The dam's history, storage capacity, and ongoing risk management efforts by the USACE highlight the complex interplay between infrastructure, natural forces, and community safety in a changing climate.
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 Martins Fork Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Martins Fork Near Smith | 29 cfs | → |
| Martins Fork Above Smith | 51 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River Near Harlan | 348 cfs | → |
| Powell River Near Jonesville | 241 cfs | → |
| Poor Fork At Cumberland | 59 cfs | → |
| Clinch River Near Looneys Gap | 1,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Martins Fork Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Keokee Loop Lee County
- Boat Access Claiborne County
- Jesus Church Road, Mooresburg
- Malinda Ferry Road, Rogersville
- Harbor Drive Boat Launch
- 2nd Avenue Scott County
Campgrounds
- Martins Fork Cabin
- Gibson Gap
- Wilderness Road - Cumberland Gap National Park
- Portal 31 Rv Park
- Pine Mountain State Park
- Willie Begley Memorial Rv Park
Track Martins Fork 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 Martins Fork Dam
Where does the data for Martins Fork 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 Martins Fork Dam.