Smokey Valley Dam is an earth dam located in Carter County, Kentucky, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 260 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Smokey Valley Dam
The primary purpose of Smokey Valley Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Commonwealth of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Smokey Creek near Iron Hill.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 845 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 04/18/2024.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Carter |
| Nearest City | Iron Hill |
| River/Stream | Smokey Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.36599, -83.11810 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 845 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 845 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 366 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Commonwealth of Kentucky |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00037 |
| Federal ID | KY00037 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |