Zachariah Lake Dam
Zachariah Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lee County, Kentucky, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Zachariah Lake Dam
Zachariah Lake Dam is a dam in Lee, Kentucky. The dam is owned by Bretagne (private). It impounds the Sinking Creek near No Town.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 455 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/07/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Lee |
| Nearest City | No Town |
| River/Stream | Sinking Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.68920, -83.70990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 380 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 455 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 455 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | BRETAGNE |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00313 |
| Federal ID | KY00313 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |