Wellington Unit 4 dam
Wellington Unit 4
Wellington Unit 4 is a local government-owned structure located in Lexington, Kentucky, along the South Fork Elkhorn Creek. This earthen dam was designed by Parrott, Ely, and Hurt Engineers, with a height of 18 feet and a storage capacity of 390 acre-feet. Completed in 2000, the dam serves a primary purpose of 'Other' and is regulated by the Kentucky Division of Water, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
The dam has a spillway width of 170 feet and is classified as having a 'High' hazard potential, although its condition assessment in 2017 was deemed 'Satisfactory'. The risk assessment for Wellington Unit 4 indicates a moderate level of risk (3), with no specific risk management measures or inundation maps prepared as of the latest data update in 2021. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential water resource management functions in the region, demonstrating the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and efficacy for the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wellington Unit 4 represents a key infrastructure asset in the management of water resources in Fayette County, Kentucky. Its location along a major waterway and regulated status by state authorities highlight the importance of proper design, inspection, and maintenance of such structures to mitigate potential risks and ensure public safety. As discussions around climate change and water management continue to evolve, the role of dams like Wellington Unit 4 in providing essential services and protection against flooding and water scarcity becomes increasingly crucial for sustainable development and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Wellington Unit 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf Run At Old Frankfort Pike At Lexington | 11 cfs | → |
| South Elkhorn Creek At Fort Spring | 15 cfs | → |
| Town Branch At Yarnallton Road At Yarnallton | 33 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Winchester Rd Nr Lexington | 17 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryant Rd Nr Cadentown | 0 cfs | → |
| N Elkhorn Cr At Bryan Station Rd At Montrose | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wellington Unit 4.
Boat launches
- Tates Creek Road 3302, Madison County
- Paris Pike Georgetown
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
- John Nickell Boat Ramp Jessamine County
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
Campgrounds
- Kentucky Horse Park Campground
- Kentucky Horse Park Campgrounds
- Camp On The Kentucky
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Logan-Hubble County Park
Paddle runs
Track Wellington Unit 4 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 Wellington Unit 4
Where does the data for Wellington Unit 4 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 Wellington Unit 4.