Upper Berea Reservoir Dam
Upper Berea Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Kentucky, built in 1940. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Berea Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Berea Reservoir 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 Berea Municipal Utilities (local government). It impounds the East Fork Silver Creek near Berea.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 99 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 02/13/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | Berea |
| River/Stream | East Fork Silver Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.53432, -84.24485 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 99 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 99 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 82 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Berea Municipal Utilities |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00630 |
| Federal ID | KY00630 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |