Dunham Lake Dam
Dunham Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Metcalfe County, Kentucky, built in 1955. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Dunham Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dunham Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Edmonton (local government). It impounds the Little Barren River near Edmonton.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 560 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 240 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 08/19/2025.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Metcalfe |
| Nearest City | Edmonton |
| River/Stream | Little Barren River |
| Coordinates | 36.99133, -85.61496 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 560 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 175 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF EDMONTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00165 |
| Federal ID | KY00165 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |