Newton Lake Dam dam
Newton Lake Dam
Newton Lake Dam, located in Shelby, Kentucky, is a private recreational dam constructed in 1974 by the Soil Conservation Service. This earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 400 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 42.3 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Tick Creek and is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, with regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity.
Managed for recreational purposes, Newton Lake Dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the Guist Creek Lake area. With a surface area of 4.2 acres and a low hazard potential, the dam provides a serene setting for fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. Despite being deemed in "Not Rated" condition, the dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, prompting ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
As part of the Louisville District, Newton Lake Dam remains an essential component of the local water resource infrastructure. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk character summary are yet to be fully assessed, its importance in providing recreational opportunities and contributing to the overall water management in the region is evident. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Newton Lake Dam a fascinating case study in private dam ownership and regulatory oversight.
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 Newton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort | 814 cfs | → |
| Salt River At Glensboro | 16 cfs | → |
| Brashears Creek At Taylorsville | 332 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone | 896 cfs | → |
| Floyds Fork At Fisherville | 1,620 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Van Buren Road Anderson County
- Beaver Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Corps Of Engineers Tailwater Road Spencer County
- Long Run Lake Boat Ramp
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
- Grange Drive 1412, La Grange
Track Newton 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 Newton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Newton 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 Newton Lake Dam.