Left Fork Dam dam
Left Fork Dam
Left Fork Dam, located in Wendover, Kentucky, is a private earth dam primarily used for water supply purposes with a height of 295 feet and a storage capacity of 10,470 acre-feet. Managed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, this dam has a high hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently not available. The dam does not fall under state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, or enforcement, and has not been modified in recent years.
Despite its lack of recent updates or inspections, Left Fork Dam remains a crucial water resource infrastructure in Leslie County, Kentucky. With a maximum storage capacity of 10,470 acre-feet, this dam plays a vital role in providing water supply for the surrounding area. Its proximity to the Louisville District and being privately owned adds to the unique dynamic of this structure, emphasizing the importance of maintaining its integrity for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
As a key element in the water supply system of the region, Left Fork Dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure for ensuring water availability in Leslie County. The dam's high hazard potential underscores the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to prevent any potential risks or hazards. Despite the lack of available information on its condition assessment, the significance of this dam in providing water supply cannot be understated, making it a focal point for those interested in water resource management and climate resilience in the area.
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 Left Fork Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cutshin Creek At Wooton | 17 cfs | → |
| North Fork Kentucky River At Hazard | 113 cfs | → |
| Cumberland River Near Harlan | 348 cfs | → |
| Poor Fork At Cumberland | 59 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek At Manchester | 338 cfs | → |
| Martins Fork Near Smith | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Left Fork Dam.
Boat launches
- Park Avenue Hazard
- Marina Lane 231, Perry County
- Carr Creek Dam Road Knott County
- Smithsboro Road Perry County
Campgrounds
- Willie Begley Memorial Rv Park
- Trace Branch - Buckhorn Lake
- Gays Creek Campground
- Buckhorn Dam Rec Area - Buckhorn Lake
- Carr Creek State Park
- Littcarr - Carr Creek Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Alternative Route 58
- Turkey Foot Campground To Confluence With South Fork Of Station Camp Creek
- Fs Route 700 To Confluence With Clinch River
- State Route 72 Bridge To Confluence With Clinch River
- Kentucky Road 80 Bridge To Downstream Part Of Rockcastle Narrows
- Confluence With Guest River To Confluence With Little Stony Creek
Track Left 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 Left Fork Dam
Where does the data for Left 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 Left Fork Dam.