Dix River Dam dam
Dix River Dam
Dix River Dam, also known as Herrington Lake, is a private hydroelectric dam located in High Bridge, Kentucky. Built in 1925, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 287 feet and spans 1700 feet across the Dix River. With a storage capacity of 320,000 acre-feet, it serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond, hydroelectric power generation, and recreation.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, the Dix River Dam is state-regulated and regularly inspected to ensure its safety and functionality. With a spillway width of 627 feet and a controlled spillway type, the dam has a high hazard potential and is classified as a very high-risk structure. Despite this, its condition assessment remains satisfactory, indicating its ongoing maintenance and management efforts.
Offering a glimpse into the rich history and engineering marvel of water resource management, the Dix River Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam serves as a fascinating case study in balancing the needs of energy production, water conservation, and recreational activities within the context of a changing climate and evolving regulatory landscape.
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 Dix River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 7 At Highbridge | 3,540 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson | 463 cfs | → |
| Dix River Near Danville | 4 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 6 Near Salvisa | 912 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View | 522 cfs | → |
| South Elkhorn Creek At Fort Spring | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dix River Dam.
Boat launches
- Salt River Park Harrodsburg
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- Lakeside Drive 1098, Garrard County
- Oregon Landing Road Mercer County
- Tates Creek Road 3302, Madison County
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
Campgrounds
- Camp On The Kentucky
- Logan-Hubble County Park
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Kentucky Horse Park Campground
- Kentucky Horse Park Campgrounds
Paddle runs
Track Dix River 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 Dix River Dam
Where does the data for Dix River 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 Dix River Dam.