Walter Smith Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Larue County, Kentucky, built in 1973. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 842 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 Walter Smith Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Walter Smith Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Buck Haven Inc (private). It impounds the Rolling Fork near No Town.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 842 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 165 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 08/21/2025.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Larue |
| Nearest City | No Town |
| River/Stream | Rolling Fork |
| Coordinates | 37.66690, -85.61440 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 842 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 165 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 165 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 69 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Buck Haven Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00945 |
| Federal ID | KY00945 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |