Mary Ross Lake Dam dam
Mary Ross Lake Dam
Mary Ross Lake Dam, located in Shelbyville, Kentucky, is a private-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1940, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans 680 feet in length, creating a serene lake with a storage capacity of 284 acre-feet. The dam sits on Clear Creek and is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement standards.
Despite having a low hazard potential, Mary Ross Lake Dam has a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and has a surface area of 20.2 acres, providing ample space for recreational activities such as boating and fishing. With its beautiful surroundings and historical significance, the dam serves as a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the intersection of human-made structures and natural landscapes in Kentucky.
Visitors to Mary Ross Lake Dam can appreciate its tranquil setting and the engineering marvel of its construction, while also recognizing the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of this recreational water resource. As a key feature in the Louisville District, this dam represents a harmonious blend of nature and human intervention, offering a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to engage with the complexities of water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Mary Ross Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Floyds Fork At Fisherville | 1,620 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork Near Pewee Valley | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Brashears Creek At Taylorsville | 332 cfs | → |
| Chenoweth Run At Gelhaus Lane Near Fern Creek | 19 cfs | → |
| Chenoweth Run At Ruckriegal Parkway | 3 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Glensboro | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mary Ross Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Long Run Lake Boat Ramp
- Grange Drive 1412, La Grange
- Corps Of Engineers Tailwater Road Spencer County
- Van Buren Road Anderson County
- Lasater Road Louisville
- Beaver Lake Public Boat Ramp
Track Mary Ross Lake 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 Mary Ross Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mary Ross Lake 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 Mary Ross Lake Dam.