West Fork Clarks River Frs No 20
West Fork Clarks River Frs No 20 is an earth dam located in Graves County, Kentucky, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About West Fork Clarks River Frs No 20
The primary purpose of West Fork Clarks River Frs No 20 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Graves County Soil Conservation District (local government). It impounds the West Fork Clarks River near Oaks.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 1,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 867 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 06/26/2025.
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 | Graves |
| Nearest City | Oaks |
| River/Stream | West Fork Clarks River |
| Coordinates | 36.87700, -88.49184 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 867 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 867 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 190 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | GRAVES COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00068 |
| Federal ID | KY00068 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |