Little Kentucky River Frs No 7

Little Kentucky River Frs No 7 is an earth dam located in Henry County, Kentucky, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Little Kentucky River Frs No 7

The primary purpose of Little Kentucky River Frs No 7 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 32 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 597 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 09/04/2025.

At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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.

High HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateKentucky
CountyHenry
Nearest CitySulphur
River/StreamLittle Kentucky River
Coordinates38.50631, -85.19786

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height32 ft
Dam Height32 ft
Dam Length580 ft
Year Completed1970 (56 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage597 acre-ft
Max Storage597 acre-ft
Normal Storage50 acre-ft
Surface Area10 acres
Drainage Area2 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection09/04/2025
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDKY00280
Federal IDKY00280
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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