Cowbell Reservoir Dam
Cowbell Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Kentucky, built in 1955. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cowbell Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Cowbell Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Berea Municipal Utilities (local government). It impounds the Cowbell Creek near Bighill.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 540 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 01/29/2020.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | Bighill |
| River/Stream | Cowbell Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.53919, -84.22790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 540 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 456 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Berea Municipal Utilities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/29/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00071 |
| Federal ID | KY00071 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |