Otter Lake Dam No 2 is an earth dam located in Hopkins County, Kentucky, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 490 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Otter Lake Dam No 2
The primary purpose of Otter Lake Dam No 2 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Hopkins County Fiscal Court;robert & Sheila Hulbig (private). It impounds the Otter Creek near No Town.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 127 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 03/18/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Kentucky dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Hopkins |
| Nearest City | No Town |
| River/Stream | Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.39707, -87.52731 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 127 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 127 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Hopkins County Fiscal Court;robert & Sheila Hulbig |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY00998 |
| Federal ID | KY00998 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |