Cannon Creek Dam
Cannon Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Bell County, Kentucky, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cannon Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Cannon Creek 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 Commonwealth Of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Yellow Creek near Ferndale.
The dam stands 125 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 243 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/17/2025.
At 125 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Bell |
| Nearest City | Ferndale |
| River/Stream | Yellow Creek |
| Coordinates | 36.68465, -83.69158 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Height | 125 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 243 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00275 |
| Federal ID | KY00275 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |