Green River Dam
Green River Dam is a rockfill dam located in Taylor County, Kentucky, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Green River Dam
The primary purpose of Green River 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 Usace - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Green River near Greensburg.
The dam stands 144 feet tall and stretches 2,350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,210 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 723,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 682 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/22/2021.
At 144 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Taylor |
| Nearest City | Greensburg |
| River/Stream | Green River |
| Coordinates | 37.24571, -85.33982 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 144 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 723,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 723,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 244,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,210 acres |
| Drainage Area | 682 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 74,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03007 |
| Federal ID | KY03007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |