Pine Knob Dam is an earth dam located in Grayson County, Kentucky, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 295 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 Pine Knob Dam
The primary purpose of Pine Knob Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by James D. Fisher (private). It impounds the Pine Knob Creek near Pine Knob.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 295 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 04/23/2025.
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 | Grayson |
| Nearest City | Pine Knob |
| River/Stream | Pine Knob Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.48116, -86.51588 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 295 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | James D. Fisher |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00140 |
| Federal ID | KY00140 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |