Martins Fork Dam is a gravity dam located in Harlan County, Kentucky, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 120 ft120 ft tall and 504 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 Martins Fork Dam
The primary purpose of Martins Fork 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 - Nashville District (federal). It impounds the Martins Fork of Cumberland R. near Cawood.
The dam stands 120 feet tall and stretches 504 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 340 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 21,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 56 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 05/30/2024.
At 120 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Harlan |
| Nearest City | Cawood |
| River/Stream | Martins Fork of Cumberland R. |
| Coordinates | 36.75215, -83.25788 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 120 ft |
| Dam Length | 504 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 21,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 21,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 340 acres |
| Drainage Area | 56 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 57,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Nashville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY03061 |
| Federal ID | KY03061 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |