Greenbo Lake Dam
Greenbo Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Greenup County, Kentucky, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Greenbo Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Greenbo Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Commonwealth Of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Clay Lick Creek near Argillite.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 180 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,329 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 02/17/2026.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Kentucky dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Greenup |
| Nearest City | Argillite |
| River/Stream | Clay Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.49083, -82.86583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,329 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,329 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,002 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 180 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/17/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00039 |
| Federal ID | KY00039 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |