Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam dam
Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam
Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam, located in Owen County, Kentucky, was completed in 1940 and serves as a vital water supply source for the surrounding area. The dam, standing at a height of 29 feet and stretching 230 feet in length, holds a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 42.4 acre-feet. The dam primarily regulates the flow of North Severn Creek and covers a surface area of 4.8 acres, with a drainage area of 0.12 square miles.
Despite its importance for water supply, the dam is currently in poor condition as of the last inspection in October 2016. With a low hazard potential but a moderate risk assessment score of 3, there is a need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. The dam is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections, but its condition assessment highlights the need for attention to prevent any potential risks or failures in the future. The dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures may need to be revisited to address the identified deficiencies and ensure preparedness for any unforeseen events.
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 Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest | 909 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 2 At Lockport | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Glencoe | 344 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Markland Dam Near Warsaw | 98,600 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Sadieville | 208 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam.
Boat launches
- Craigs Creek Boat Ramp
- Boltz Lake Road 399, Grant County
- Indiana 156 18249, Patriot
- Lafayette Street, Vevay
- Hinton Sadieville Road Sadieville
- 1st Street, Carrollton
Track Thomas Lakes (Upper) 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 Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam
Where does the data for Thomas Lakes (Upper) 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 Thomas Lakes (Upper) Dam.