Kentucky Dam
Kentucky Dam is a concrete dam located in Livingston County, Kentucky, built in 1944. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Kentucky Dam
The primary purpose of Kentucky 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 Tva (federal). It impounds the Tennessee River near Calvert City.
The dam stands 206 feet tall and stretches 8,422 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,535,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 40,200 square miles. Completed in 1944, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 10/23/2024.
At 206 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 | Livingston |
| Nearest City | Calvert City |
| River/Stream | Tennessee River |
| Coordinates | 37.01250, -88.27011 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 206 ft |
| Dam Height | 206 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,422 ft |
| Year Completed | 1944 (82 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,535,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,535,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,127,470 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 40,200 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 775,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TVA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY05017 |
| Federal ID | KY05017 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |