Rough River Dam
Rough River Dam is an earth dam located in Grayson County, Kentucky, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Rough River Dam
The primary purpose of Rough 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 Rough River near Falls Of Rough.
The dam stands 132 feet tall and stretches 1,590 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 334,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 454 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 05/02/2023.
At 132 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 | Grayson |
| Nearest City | Falls Of Rough |
| River/Stream | Rough River |
| Coordinates | 37.61975, -86.50091 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 132 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,590 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 334,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 334,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 454 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,000 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 | 05/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03012 |
| Federal ID | KY03012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |