Mckee City Reservoir
Mckee City Reservoir is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Kentucky, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Mckee City Reservoir
The primary purpose of Mckee City Reservoir 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 City Of Mckee (local government). It impounds the Middle Fork Rockcastle River near Mckee.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 11/13/2025.
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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Mckee |
| River/Stream | Middle Fork Rockcastle River |
| Coordinates | 37.45694, -83.97861 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF MCKEE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00508 |
| Federal ID | KY00508 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |