Elk Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Owen County, Kentucky, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 43 ft43 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 Elk Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Elk Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Elk Lake Development Corporation (private). It impounds the Elk Creek near Lusbys Mill-vicinity.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 207 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,373 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/23/2025.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Owen |
| Nearest City | Lusbys Mill-vicinity |
| River/Stream | Elk Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.49537, -84.74609 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,373 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,373 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,654 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 207 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Elk Lake Development Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00303 |
| Federal ID | KY00303 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |