Lake Vega
Lake Vega is an earth dam located in Madison County, Kentucky, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Vega
The primary purpose of Lake Vega 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 Blue Grass Army Depot (federal). It impounds the Muddy Creek near Elliston.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 890 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 140 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,840 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1943, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/24/2020.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | Elliston |
| River/Stream | Muddy Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.70167, -84.21667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 890 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,840 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,840 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 140 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Blue Grass Army Depot |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00028 |
| Federal ID | KY00028 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |