Emile Napier Lake Dam
Emile Napier Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lee County, Kentucky, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Emile Napier Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Emile Napier Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Emil Napier (private). It impounds the Silver Creek near Beattyville.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 275 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a storage capacity of 34 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 05/07/2025.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Lee |
| Nearest City | Beattyville |
| River/Stream | Silver Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.62192, -83.72403 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 275 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | EMIL NAPIER |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00881 |
| Federal ID | KY00881 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |