Buck Creek Frs 4 is an earth dam located in Lincoln County, Kentucky, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 1,310 ft long, taller than 89% 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 Buck Creek Frs 4
The primary purpose of Buck Creek Frs 4 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 Lincoln County Soil Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Crab Orchard Creek near Elrod.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1,310 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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 11/20/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | Lincoln |
| Nearest City | Elrod |
| River/Stream | Crab Orchard Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.38278, -84.55722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,310 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lincoln County Soil Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00207 |
| Federal ID | KY00207 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |