Donaho Lake Dam
Donaho Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Boyd County, Kentucky, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Donaho Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Donaho Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Robert Merchant (private). It impounds the Trib-silver Run near Savage Branch.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 02/17/2026.
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 | Boyd |
| Nearest City | Savage Branch |
| River/Stream | Trib-silver Run |
| Coordinates | 38.34524, -82.64848 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ROBERT MERCHANT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/17/2026 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00479 |
| Federal ID | KY00479 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |