Adams Fork Slurry Dam

Adams Fork Slurry Dam is an earth dam located in Leslie County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialHighFailure would probably cost lives
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNot reported
Last inspectionNot reported
Height480 ft

Dam profile

NID height · 480 ft
480 FT WASHINGTON MONUMENT

480 ft tall and 2,050 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Washington Monument, 555 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.

About Adams Fork Slurry Dam

The primary purpose of Adams Fork Slurry Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Shamrock Coal Company, Inc. (private).

The dam stands 480 feet tall and stretches 2,050 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 8,210 acre-feet.

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.

At 480 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

StateKentucky
CountyLeslie
Nearest CityHelton
Coordinates36.98056, -83.41917

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height480 ft
Dam Height480 ft
Dam Length2,050 ft

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage8,210 acre-ft
Max Storage8,210 acre-ft

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerShamrock Coal Company, Inc.
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDKY83530
Federal IDKY83530
More InfoState Dam Safety Program