Kentucky River Lock And Dam 4 dam
Kentucky River Lock And Dam 4
Kentucky River Lock and Dam 4, located in Franklin, Kentucky, was completed in 1844 and is owned and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This timber crib dam stands at a structural height of 27 feet with a hydraulic height of 21 feet, serving a variety of purposes including navigation, fish and wildlife pond, recreation, and water supply. With a storage capacity of 15,860 acre-feet and a drainage area of 5,412 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels along the Kentucky River.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential dam, Kentucky River Lock and Dam 4 is recognized for its high flood risk due to its limited water storage capacity and the potential for severe weather events to overwhelm the dam system. The US Army Corps of Engineers employs various risk management measures to mitigate these risks, including continuous monitoring of the dam's condition, prioritizing maintenance activities, and engaging with emergency managers and the public to raise awareness and preparedness for dam-related emergencies. While the dam's emergency action plan is regularly updated, more detailed information specific to this dam will be added in the future to enhance risk management strategies and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
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 Kentucky River Lock And Dam 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort | 814 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort | 114 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone | 896 cfs | → |
| South Elkhorn Creek Near Midway | 53 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest | 909 cfs | → |
| Kentucky River At Lock 2 At Lockport | 2,470 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kentucky River Lock And Dam 4.
Boat launches
- Tyrone Main Street Anderson County
- Great Crossing Walking Path Scott County
- Us 25 Georgetown
- Paris Pike Georgetown
- Beaver Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Oregon Landing Road Mercer County
Track Kentucky River Lock And Dam 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 Kentucky River Lock And Dam 4
Where does the data for Kentucky River Lock And Dam 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 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 Kentucky River Lock And Dam 4.