Kentucky River Lock & Dam 13 is a concrete dam located in Lee County, Kentucky, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 43 ft43 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 89% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Kentucky River Lock & Dam 13
The primary purpose of Kentucky River Lock & Dam 13 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 Pryse.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,092 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,784 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 08/16/2021.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Lee |
| Nearest City | Pryse |
| River/Stream | Kentucky River |
| Coordinates | 37.60166, -83.83265 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,092 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,092 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,092 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2,784 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | Commonwealth of Kentucky |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01205 |
| Federal ID | KY01205 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |