Taylorsville Dam
Taylorsville Dam is a rockfill dam located in Spencer County, Kentucky, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Taylorsville Dam
The primary purpose of Taylorsville 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 Salt River near Taylorsville.
The dam stands 162 feet tall and stretches 1,280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,050 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 291,670 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 353 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 07/15/2024.
At 162 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 | Spencer |
| Nearest City | Taylorsville |
| River/Stream | Salt River |
| Coordinates | 38.00410, -85.30750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 162 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 291,670 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 291,670 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 86,440 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,050 acres |
| Drainage Area | 353 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 123,360 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 | 07/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03051 |
| Federal ID | KY03051 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |