Big Horn Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, built in 1961. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 450 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Big Horn Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Big Horn Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jeff Lamont (private). It impounds the Tr-bee Lick Creek near Fairdale.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 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 08/15/2024.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Fairdale |
| River/Stream | Tr-bee Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.08765, -85.76266 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Jeff Lamont |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00592 |
| Federal ID | KY00592 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |