Red Lick Creek Frs 5
Red Lick Creek Frs 5 is an earth dam located in Madison County, Kentucky, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Red Lick Creek Frs 5
The primary purpose of Red Lick Creek Frs 5 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Red Lick Creek Watershed Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Tr-red Lick Creek near South Irvine.
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 623 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,527 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 02/13/2025.
At 61 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | South Irvine |
| River/Stream | Tr-red Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.57972, -84.15083 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 623 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,527 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,527 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | RED LICK CREEK WATERSHED CONSERVANCY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01005 |
| Federal ID | KY01005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |