Lake Reba Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Kentucky, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 735 ft long, taller than 50% 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 Lake Reba Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Reba Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Richmond (state). It impounds the Otter Creek near Lake Reba Community.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 735 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,703 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 01/29/2025.
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 | Lake Reba Community |
| River/Stream | Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.74137, -84.25215 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 735 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,703 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,703 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Richmond |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00066 |
| Federal ID | KY00066 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |