Mud River Mps 51 - Lake Malone Dam
Mud River Mps 51 - Lake Malone Dam is an earth dam located in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mud River Mps 51 - Lake Malone Dam
The primary purpose of Mud River Mps 51 - Lake Malone Dam 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 Commonwealth Of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Mud River near No Town.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 610 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 826 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 28 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 03/18/2025.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Muhlenberg |
| Nearest City | No Town |
| River/Stream | Mud River |
| Coordinates | 37.08152, -87.03290 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 610 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 826 acres |
| Drainage Area | 28 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00110 |
| Federal ID | KY00110 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |