Little Kentucky River Frs No 5b is an earth dam located in Henry County, Kentucky, built in 1971. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 550 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 Little Kentucky River Frs No 5b
The primary purpose of Little Kentucky River Frs No 5b 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 Henry County Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Little Kentucky River near Sulphur.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,040 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/04/2025.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Henry |
| Nearest City | Sulphur |
| River/Stream | Little Kentucky River |
| Coordinates | 38.50169, -85.23257 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,040 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,040 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 81 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Henry County Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00279 |
| Federal ID | KY00279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |