Mt Gilead Lake Dam dam
Mt Gilead Lake Dam
Mt Gilead Lake Dam, located in Gamaliel, Kentucky, is a private earth dam completed in 1950 for recreational purposes. Situated on the Barren River within the Nashville District, the dam stands at 20 feet high and spans a length of 480 feet, with a storage capacity of 162 acre-feet. The dam, owned by a private entity, is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Mt Gilead Lake Dam is rated as moderate risk level 3, indicating some potential risks associated with its operation and maintenance. The dam lacks a formal condition assessment rating, but has not been significantly modified since its construction. With a drainage area of 0.86 square miles and a surface area of 12.3 acres, the dam serves as a popular recreational spot for locals and visitors alike, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities.
While Mt Gilead Lake Dam has not been rated for its current condition, it remains an important feature in the Monroe County landscape, providing both recreational opportunities and potential risks that must be managed effectively. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of dams like Mt Gilead Lake is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of these structures in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Mt Gilead Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lick Creek Below Red Boiling Springs | 27 cfs | → |
| Russell Creek Near Columbia | 11 cfs | → |
| Roaring River Near Hilham | 10 cfs | → |
| Green River At Munfordville | 263 cfs | → |
| Wolf River Near Byrdstown | 15 cfs | → |
| West Fork Obey River Near Alpine | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mt Gilead Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cumberland County
- Riverbrook Trail Cumberland County
- Allen County
- State Park Road Barren County
- Beaver Creek Boat Ramp Road Barren County
- State Park Road Clinton County
Track Mt Gilead 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 Mt Gilead Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mt Gilead 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 Mt Gilead Lake Dam.