Hardin County Sportsman Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hardin County, Kentucky, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 23 ft23 ft tall and 520 ft long. 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 Hardin County Sportsman Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Hardin County Sportsman Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Hardin County Sportsman Club (private). It impounds the Rhudes Creek near Star Mills.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 08/21/2025.
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 | Hardin |
| Nearest City | Star Mills |
| River/Stream | Rhudes Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.63474, -85.84683 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Hardin County Sportsman Club |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00130 |
| Federal ID | KY00130 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |