Markland Locks and Dam is a concrete dam located in Gallatin County, Kentucky, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 118 ft118 ft tall and 1,991 ft long, taller than 98% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Markland Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Markland Locks and Dam 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 USACE - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Ohio River near Vevay in.
The dam stands 118 feet tall and stretches 1,991 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 640,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 83,176 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/21/2023.
At 118 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Gallatin |
| Nearest City | Vevay in |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 38.77618, -84.96456 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,991 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 640,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 640,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 460,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 83,176 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 116,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/21/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03033 |
| Federal ID | KY03033 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |