Walnut Meadow Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Kentucky, built in 1966. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 425 ft long, taller than 50% 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 Walnut Meadow Dam
The primary purpose of Walnut Meadow Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Berea College (private). It impounds the Walnut Meadow Branch near Paint Lick.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 85 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 01/31/2024.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | Paint Lick |
| River/Stream | Walnut Meadow Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.59384, -84.31152 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Berea College |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00854 |
| Federal ID | KY00854 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |