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.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 580 ft long, taller than 74% 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 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.
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 | Henry |
| Nearest City | Sulphur |
| River/Stream | Little Kentucky River |
| Coordinates | 38.50631, -85.19786 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 597 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 597 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Henry County Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00280 |
| Federal ID | KY00280 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |