Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8
Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8 is a timber crib dam located in Jessamine County, Kentucky, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8
The primary purpose of Kentucky River Lock & Dam 8 is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Commonwealth Of Kentucky (state). It impounds the Kentucky River near Camp Nelson.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 309 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 14,020 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,414 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 10/25/2024.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Jessamine |
| Nearest City | Camp Nelson |
| River/Stream | Kentucky River |
| Coordinates | 37.74568, -84.58706 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Timber Crib |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 309 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 14,020 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 14,020 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,700 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 4,414 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01201 |
| Federal ID | KY01201 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |