KENTUCKY RIVER

RIVER LEVELS
February 9, 2025


TOTAL RIVER DISCHARGE

Total streamflow across the Kentucky River was last observed at 510,000 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 1,011,573 acre-ft of water today; about 267% of normal. River levels are high. Average streamflow for this time of year is 190,932 cfs, with recent peaks last observed on 2021-03-03 when daily discharge volume was observed at 893,000 cfs.

Maximum discharge along the river is currently at the Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone reporting a streamflow rate of 59,600 cfs. However, the streamgauge with the highest stage along the river is the Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest with a gauge stage of 30.95 ft. This river is monitored from 12 different streamgauging stations along the Kentucky River, the highest being situated at an altitude of 630 ft, the Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg.

The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, covering a total length of 259 miles. It has a significant history in the state of Kentucky, as it was a vital transportation route for early settlers and served as a source of power for mills and factories in the 19th century. The river's hydrology includes multiple tributaries, with some of the major ones being the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. The river is impounded by several dams, including the Lock and Dam 11, which creates the reservoir known as the Kentucky River Lake. Other recreational areas around the river include the Kentucky River Palisades and the Clifty Wilderness Area. The Kentucky River is used for agricultural purposes, including irrigation and livestock watering.

Last Updated 2025-02-09
Discharge Volume 1,011,573 ACRE-FT
Streamflow 510,000.0 cfs
None cfs (None%)
Percent of Normal 267.11%
Maximum 893,000.0 cfs
2021-03-03
Seasonal Avg 190,932 cfs

YEAR OVER YEAR DISCHARGE (CFS)

Streamflow Conditions
Streamgauge Streamflow Gauge Stage 24hr Change (%) % Normal Minimum (cfs) Maximum (cfs) Air Temp Elevation
Kentucky River At Lock 14 At Heidelberg
USGS 03282000
23900 cfs 17.97 ft -16.11
Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester
USGS 03284000
39100 cfs 21.33 ft 70.87
Kentucky River At Lock 11 Near College Hill
USGS 03282290
30000 cfs 22.06 ft -8.16
Kentucky River At Lock 12 Near Irvine
USGS 03282120
8300 cfs 20.33 ft -20.19
Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View
USGS 03284230
40600 cfs 21.89 ft 67.19
Kentucky River At Lock 8 Near Camp Nelson
USGS 03284500
44600 cfs 25.92 ft 67.38
Kentucky River At Lock 6 Near Salvisa
USGS 03287000
55800 cfs 22.04 ft -6.7
Kentucky River At Lock 7 At Highbridge
USGS 03286500
52800 cfs 22.83 ft 16.27
Kentucky River At Lock 5 Near Tyrone
USGS 03287250
59600 cfs 23.08 ft -8.81
Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort
USGS 03287500
55000 cfs 21.54 ft 29.95
Kentucky River At Lock 3 At Gest
USGS 03290080
55100 cfs 30.95 ft 11.39
Kentucky River At Lock 2 At Lockport
USGS 03290500
53500 cfs 26.89 ft 26.41
History of the River

The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, 260 miles (418 km) long, in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the Bluegrass region in the north central part of the state. Its watershed encompasses about 7,000 square miles (18,000 km2). It supplies drinking water to about one-sixth of the population of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The river is no longer navigable above Lock 4 at Frankfort. Concrete bulkheads have been poured behind the upper lock gates of Locks 5-14 to strengthen the weakest link in the dam structures. All 14 dams are now under the management of the state-run Kentucky River Authority. The primary importance of the locks today is to maintain a pool that allows the city of Lexington to draw its drinking water from the river. Despite the fact that the Lexington area receives well over 40 inches (1,000 mm) of precipitation annually, the limestone, karst geology of that area means that surprisingly little natural surface water is found in the region.
Winchester, Beattyville, Irvine, Richmond, Lancaster, Nicholasville, Harrodsburg, Wilmore, Versailles, Lawrenceburg, and Frankfort also draw water from the river for their municipal water supplies. It is estimated that over 700,000 people depend on the river for water.

       

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