Nolin River Dam
Nolin River Dam is a rockfill dam located in Edmonson County, Kentucky, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Nolin River Dam
The primary purpose of Nolin River Dam 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 Usace - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Nolin River near Kyrock.
The dam stands 167 feet tall and stretches 980 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,790 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 609,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 703 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/07/2023.
At 167 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Edmonson |
| Nearest City | Kyrock |
| River/Stream | Nolin River |
| Coordinates | 37.27714, -86.24702 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 167 ft |
| Dam Length | 980 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 609,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 609,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 170,140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,790 acres |
| Drainage Area | 703 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 48,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/07/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03011 |
| Federal ID | KY03011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |