Yatesville Dam
Yatesville Dam is a rockfill dam located in Lawrence County, Kentucky, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Yatesville Dam
The primary purpose of Yatesville 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 - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Blaine Creek near Yatesville.
The dam stands 156 feet tall and stretches 855 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,242 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 83,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 208 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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 09/08/2023.
At 156 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 | Lawrence |
| Nearest City | Yatesville |
| River/Stream | Blaine Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.12586, -82.69733 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 156 ft |
| Dam Length | 855 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 83,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 83,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,242 acres |
| Drainage Area | 208 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 63,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03065 |
| Federal ID | KY03065 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |