Fordsville Lake Dam
Fordsville Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Ohio County, Kentucky, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Fordsville Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Fordsville Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Fordsville (local government). It impounds the Adams Fork (west) near Fordsville.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 230 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 07/17/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Ohio |
| Nearest City | Fordsville |
| River/Stream | Adams Fork (west) |
| Coordinates | 37.63865, -86.71088 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 157 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF FORDSVILLE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00289 |
| Federal ID | KY00289 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |