West Fork Clarks River Frs No 4
West Fork Clarks River Frs No 4 is an earth dam located in Calloway County, Kentucky, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About West Fork Clarks River Frs No 4
The primary purpose of West Fork Clarks River Frs No 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 Calloway County Conservation District (local government). It impounds the West Fork Clarks River near Backusburg.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 1,068 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 754 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 12/11/2025.
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 | Calloway |
| Nearest City | Backusburg |
| River/Stream | West Fork Clarks River |
| Coordinates | 36.67000, -88.46806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,068 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 754 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 754 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CALLOWAY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00222 |
| Federal ID | KY00222 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |