Elkhorn Lake Dam
Elkhorn Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Letcher County, Kentucky, built in 1912. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Elkhorn Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Elkhorn 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 City Of Jenkins (local government). It impounds the Elkhorn Creek near Jenkins.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 11/17/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Letcher |
| Nearest City | Jenkins |
| River/Stream | Elkhorn Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.16837, -82.63469 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 249 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF JENKINS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00113 |
| Federal ID | KY00113 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |