Town Hollow Lake Dam dam
Town Hollow Lake Dam
Town Hollow Lake Dam, also known as Ashcraft Lake, is a Federal-owned structure located in Lee County, Kentucky. Completed in 1980, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 34 feet and stretches 170 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 35.5 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes, including flood control and recreational activities, with a surface area of 2.8 acres and a drainage area of 0.23 square miles.
Managed by the Kentucky Division of Water, Town Hollow Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in a not-rated condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and has undergone inspections every 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in June 2005. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has not been assigned a Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) date, indicating a need for continued monitoring and risk management measures to ensure its safety and integrity.
Although lacking specific emergency action plans and inundation maps, Town Hollow Lake Dam remains a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the region. With its Federal ownership and state regulation, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water quality, controlling floods, and providing recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike. As climate enthusiasts continue to monitor and protect our water resources, Town Hollow Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable dam management practices in a changing climate 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 Town Hollow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg | 357 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon Creek At Cressmont | 3 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Kentucky River At Tallega | 50 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 12 Near Irvine | · | → |
| South Fork Kentucky River At Booneville | 78 cfs | → |
| Red River At Clay City | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Town Hollow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Water Street Beattyville
- Jackson Road Beattyville
- Ky 399 Heidelberg
- Natural Bridge Road Powell County
- Main Street Irvine
- Boat Ramp Road Wolfe County
Campgrounds
- Natural Bridge State Park
- Koomer Ridge Rec Area
- Koomer Ridge Campground
- Tunnel Ridge Road
- Callies
- Red River Gorge Geological Area
Fishing spots
- Muskie Bend Fishing Site
- Windy Bay Fishing Site
- Shallow Flats Wildlife Viewing Area
- Ramey Creek Fishing Site
- Long Bend Fishing Site
- Fishing Point
Track Town Hollow 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 Town Hollow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Town Hollow 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 Town Hollow Lake Dam.