Laurel Dam
Laurel Dam is a rockfill dam located in Laurel County, Kentucky, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Laurel Dam
The primary purpose of Laurel Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Usace - Nashville District (federal). It impounds the Laurel near Burnside.
The dam stands 282 feet tall and stretches 1,420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,060 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 435,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 282 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 03/30/2022.
At 282 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 | Laurel |
| Nearest City | Burnside |
| River/Stream | Laurel |
| Coordinates | 36.96100, -84.26800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 282 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 435,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 435,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 185,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,060 acres |
| Drainage Area | 282 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 86,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | USACE - Nashville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03046 |
| Federal ID | KY03046 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |