Bullock Pen Lake Dam
Bullock Pen Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Grant County, Kentucky, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bullock Pen Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bullock Pen Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Commonwealth Of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Bullock Pen Creek near Zion Station.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,640 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/29/2025.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Grant |
| Nearest City | Zion Station |
| River/Stream | Bullock Pen Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.78833, -84.65583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 670 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,640 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,640 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,189 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 52,245 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00055 |
| Federal ID | KY00055 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |