Otter Lake Dam No 2

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.

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 82% 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.

High HazardUnsatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateKentucky
CountyHopkins
Nearest CityNo Town
River/StreamOtter Creek
Coordinates37.39707, -87.52731

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height35 ft
Dam Height35 ft
Dam Length490 ft
Year Completed1979 (47 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage127 acre-ft
Max Storage127 acre-ft
Normal Storage90 acre-ft
Surface Area6 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerHopkins County Fiscal Court;Robert & Sheila Hulbig
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentUnsatisfactory
Last Inspection03/18/2025
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDKY00998
Federal IDKY00998
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams