Plum Creek Frs 18 dam
Plum Creek Frs 18
Plum Creek FRS 18, located in Waterford, Kentucky, is a vital flood risk reduction structure on Plum Creek, completed in 1960. This earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and spans 460 feet, providing storage capacity of 464 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 40 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.05 square miles, Plum Creek FRS 18 plays a crucial role in managing floodwaters and safeguarding the surrounding area from potential inundation.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, this dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement, ensuring its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Plum Creek FRS 18 received a satisfactory condition assessment during its last inspection in October 2017. The dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential hazards and protect downstream communities and ecosystems.
Owned by the local government and designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plum Creek FRS 18 serves as a critical component of the flood control infrastructure in Spencer County, Kentucky. With its uncontrolled spillway and significant storage capacity, this structure exemplifies the importance of strategic water resource management and climate resilience efforts in safeguarding communities against the impacts of extreme weather events and increasing precipitation patterns.
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 Plum Creek Frs 18 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brashears Creek At Taylorsville | 332 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork Near Mt Washington | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork At Fisherville | 1,620 cfs | → |
| Chenoweth Run At Gelhaus Lane Near Fern Creek | 19 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek At Thixton Road Near Louisville | 40 cfs | → |
| Chenoweth Run At Ruckriegal Parkway | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Plum Creek Frs 18.
Boat launches
- Corps Of Engineers Tailwater Road Spencer County
- Lasater Road Louisville
- Cooper Chapel Road Louisville
- Long Run Lake Boat Ramp
- Van Buren Road Anderson County
- Bullitt County Boat Ramp
Track Plum Creek Frs 18 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 Plum Creek Frs 18
Where does the data for Plum Creek Frs 18 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 Significant 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 Plum Creek Frs 18.