Freeman Branch Dam is an earth dam located in Laurel County, Kentucky, built in 1977. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 380 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 Freeman Branch Dam
The primary purpose of Freeman Branch Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Donald Sowders (private). It impounds the Freeman Branch near Atlanta.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 86 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 11/05/2013. That was over 12 years ago.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Laurel |
| Nearest City | Atlanta |
| River/Stream | Freeman Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.20999, -84.05403 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 380 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 86 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 86 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 21 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | Donald Sowders |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2013 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00864 |
| Federal ID | KY00864 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |