Cranks Creek Lake Dam

About Cranks Creek Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Cranks Creek Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Harlan County Fiscal Court (local government). It impounds the Martins Fork near Cawood(area).

The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 635 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 219 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 24 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. 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 12/17/2025.

At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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.

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