Otter Lake Dam 3 is an earth dam located in Hopkins County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 280 ft long, taller than 50% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Otter Lake Dam 3
The primary purpose of Otter Lake Dam 3 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Robert & Shelia Hulbig (private).
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet.
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 04/08/2025.
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 | Hopkins |
| Coordinates | 37.39505, -87.52296 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Robert & Shelia Hulbig |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY01247 |
| Federal ID | KY01247 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |