Lake Lewman
Lake Lewman is an earth dam located in Rowan County, Kentucky, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Lewman
The primary purpose of Lake Lewman is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Lewman Association (private). It impounds the Island Fork near Waltz.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 576 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 02/26/2025.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Rowan |
| Nearest City | Waltz |
| River/Stream | Island Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.34722, -83.45750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 576 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 576 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 380 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE LEWMAN ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/26/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00365 |
| Federal ID | KY00365 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |