Kentucky River Lock & Dam 9
Kentucky River Lock & Dam 9 is a concrete dam located in Jessamine County, Kentucky, built in 1907. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kentucky River Lock & Dam 9
The primary purpose of Kentucky River Lock & Dam 9 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 36 feet tall and stretches 294 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,030 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,101 square miles. Completed in 1907, the structure is over a century 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 01/29/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Jessamine |
| Nearest City | Camp Nelson |
| River/Stream | Kentucky River |
| Coordinates | 37.84329, -84.44036 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 294 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,030 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 4,101 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01202 |
| Federal ID | KY01202 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |