Roark Branch Fresh Water Dam is an earth dam located in Leslie County, Kentucky. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 130 ft130 ft tall and 410 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Roark Branch Fresh Water Dam
The primary purpose of Roark Branch Fresh Water 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 130 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 225 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 130 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 | Leslie |
| Nearest City | Helton |
| Coordinates | 36.94833, -83.44417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Height | 130 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 225 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 225 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Shamrock Coal Company, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KY83543 |
| Federal ID | KY83543 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |