Upper Tradewater Frs No 5 is an earth dam located in Christian County, Kentucky, built in 1987. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 660 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Upper Tradewater Frs No 5
The primary purpose of Upper Tradewater Frs No 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 Upper Tradewater River C D (local government). It impounds the Castleberry Creek near No Town.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 105 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,043 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 04/16/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Christian |
| Nearest City | No Town |
| River/Stream | Castleberry Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.07990, -87.56526 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,043 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,043 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 485 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 105 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Upper Tradewater River C D |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01024 |
| Federal ID | KY01024 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |