Yatesville Dam dam
Yatesville Dam
Yatesville Dam, also known as Yatesville Lake, is a rockfill dam located on Blaine Creek in Lawrence, Kentucky. Completed in 1988 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction, with additional purposes including fish and wildlife pond creation, recreation, and other uses. The dam stands at a structural height of 156 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 83,300 acre-feet.
With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Yatesville Dam is closely monitored and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The agency regularly conducts inspections, updates emergency action plans, and coordinates with local emergency managers to ensure the dam's safety and readiness in the event of an emergency. Despite its risk management measures, the dam's limited capacity to store water means that releases may occur to manage water levels or relieve pressure during severe weather events.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it's important to recognize the vital role that dams like Yatesville play in mitigating flood risks and providing valuable water resources for various purposes. Continued monitoring, maintenance, and collaborative efforts with local communities are essential to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these critical infrastructure assets 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 Yatesville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Sandy River At Grayson | 60 cfs | → |
| Levisa Fork At Paintsville | 332 cfs | → |
| East Fork Twelvepole Creek Near Dunlow | 2 cfs | → |
| Tug Fork At Kermit | 332 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Ironton | 41,400 cfs | → |
| Tygarts Creek Near Greenup | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yatesville Dam.
Boat launches
- Bartram Branch Boat Ramp
- Grayson Road Elliott County
- Lick Creek Boat Dock
- Mudlick Branch Boat Ramp
- Village South Point
- Levisa Fork Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Cabwaylingo State Forest
- Paintsville Lake State Park
- Johson Homeplace
- Jenny Wiley State Park
- German Bridge - Dewey Lake
Track Yatesville 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 Yatesville Dam
Where does the data for Yatesville 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 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 Yatesville Dam.