Winchester Dam
Winchester Dam is a roller-compacted concrete dam located in Clark County, Kentucky, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Winchester Dam
The primary purpose of Winchester Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Winchester Municipal Utilities (local government). It impounds the Lower Howard Creek near No Town.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 03/19/2025.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Clark |
| Nearest City | No Town |
| River/Stream | Lower Howard Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.94893, -84.22983 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Roller-Compacted Concrete |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,672 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | WINCHESTER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01035 |
| Federal ID | KY01035 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |