Valley Creek Frs 12
Valley Creek Frs 12 is an earth dam located in Hardin County, Kentucky, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Valley Creek Frs 12
The primary purpose of Valley Creek Frs 12 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 City Of Elizabethtown (local government). It impounds the Nolin River near Elizabethtown.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,570 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/13/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Hardin |
| Nearest City | Elizabethtown |
| River/Stream | Nolin River |
| Coordinates | 37.69719, -85.84546 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,570 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,570 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF ELIZABETHTOWN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00177 |
| Federal ID | KY00177 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |