Lees Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Scott County, Kentucky, built in 1966. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 510 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Lees Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lees Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by John & Claire Chmela (private). It impounds the Tr-north Fork Elkhorn Creek near Sand Lick-area.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 510 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 263 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 05/29/2024.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Scott |
| Nearest City | Sand Lick-area |
| River/Stream | Tr-north Fork Elkhorn Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.20417, -84.65333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 510 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 263 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 263 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 175 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | John & Claire Chmela |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00749 |
| Federal ID | KY00749 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |