Northern Ky Airport Dam
Northern Ky Airport Dam is a roller-compacted concrete dam located in Boone County, Kentucky, built in 1999. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Northern Ky Airport Dam
The primary purpose of Northern Ky Airport Dam 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 Cincinnati/northern Ky Interernational Airport (private). It impounds the Gunpowder Creek near Limaburg.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 768 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 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 08/27/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Boone |
| Nearest City | Limaburg |
| River/Stream | Gunpowder Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.02967, -84.67579 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Roller-Compacted Concrete |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 768 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 768 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CINCINNATI/NORTHERN KY INTERERNATIONAL AIRPORT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01166 |
| Federal ID | KY01166 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |