Valley Creek Frs 3
Valley Creek Frs 3 is an earth dam located in Hardin County, Kentucky, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Valley Creek Frs 3
The primary purpose of Valley Creek Frs 3 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 City Of Elizabethtown (local government). It impounds the Nolin River near Elizabethtown.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,070 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 06/13/2025.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Hardin |
| Nearest City | Elizabethtown |
| River/Stream | Nolin River |
| Coordinates | 37.70867, -85.82760 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,070 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,070 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF ELIZABETHTOWN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00284 |
| Federal ID | KY00284 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |