Mill Creek Mps 4

About Mill Creek Mps 4

The primary purpose of Mill Creek Mps 4 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Tompkinsville (local government). It impounds the Barren River near Gamaliel.

The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 1,330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 109 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,504 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/19/2025.

At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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.