Salt Lick Creek Frs No 5 is an earth dam located in Bath County, Kentucky, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 470 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Salt Lick Creek Frs No 5
The primary purpose of Salt Lick Creek Frs No 5 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 Salt Lick Watershed Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Salt Lick Creek near Upper Salt Lick-area.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 03/19/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Bath |
| Nearest City | Upper Salt Lick-area |
| River/Stream | Salt Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.02472, -83.62139 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 470 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Salt Lick Watershed Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00355 |
| Federal ID | KY00355 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |