Game Farm Upper Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Kentucky, built in 1951. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 620 ft long. 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 Game Farm Upper Dam
The primary purpose of Game Farm Upper Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Commonwealth of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Benson Creek near Frankfort-area.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 49 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 05/14/2024.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Frankfort-area |
| River/Stream | Benson Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.17361, -84.92361 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Commonwealth of Kentucky |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00372 |
| Federal ID | KY00372 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |