Buckhorn Dam is a rockfill dam located in Perry County, Kentucky, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 160 ft160 ft tall and 1,020 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Buckhorn Dam
The primary purpose of Buckhorn 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 Middlefork Kentucky River near Buckhorn.
The dam stands 160 feet tall and stretches 1,020 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,230 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 167,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 408 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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 05/25/2023.
At 160 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 | Perry |
| Nearest City | Buckhorn |
| River/Stream | Middlefork Kentucky River |
| Coordinates | 37.34064, -83.47055 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 160 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,020 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 167,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 167,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 32,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,230 acres |
| Drainage Area | 408 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 138,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03027 |
| Federal ID | KY03027 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |