Priester Lake Dam dam
Priester Lake Dam
Located in McCracken County, Kentucky, Priester Lake Dam is a state-owned structure on the Clarks River, serving primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1940, the earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans 355 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 324.6 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 13.8 acres and drains a watershed area of 0.18 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Priester Lake Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in 2016. The state-regulated dam is monitored and inspected by the Kentucky Division of Water, with enforcement and permitting responsibilities falling under state jurisdiction. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in 2013, and although the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, specific risk management measures are not detailed in the available data.
Overall, Priester Lake Dam presents a unique opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore a historic dam structure in a picturesque setting in Paducah, Kentucky. While the dam's functionality for recreational purposes is evident, ongoing efforts may be needed to address the identified poor condition and ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource infrastructure.
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 Priester Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Massac Creek Near Paducah | 1 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Metropolis | 444,000 cfs | → |
| Little Bayou Creek Near Grahamville | 1 cfs | → |
| Bayou Creek Near Grahamville | 5 cfs | → |
| Clarks River At Almo | 63 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Priester Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- The Foot Of Broadway Paducah
- Smithland Dam Road Pope County
- Metropolis
- Metropolis Ferry Landing Road Mccracken County
- Metropolis Boat Ramp
- Livingston County
Campgrounds
- Pearcy Camp
- Nickell Branch Basic Campground - Land Between The Lakes
- Demumbers Bay Backcountry Area & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Birmangham Ferry Backcountry Area & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
- Cedar Grove Camping Area
- Cravens Bay Campground & Boat Ramp At Land Between The Lakes
Fishing spots
- Whoopie Cat Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- Dutchman Lake
- Lake Of Egypt
Paddle runs
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
- Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il
Track Priester 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 Priester Lake Dam
Where does the data for Priester 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 Priester Lake Dam.