The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, is monitoring the Cave Run Reservoir near Morehead, Kentucky. The lake reached record pool today and additional heavy rain could result in spillway flow during the weekend.

Record pool for this project is 759.7. The lake and dam are functioning properly.

If a spillway event occurs, the town of Farmers, Kentucky, could see a rise in water comparable to what the town experienced in early April. A spillway event may also have impacts to the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery below the dam. Exact water levels are not known at this time.

The lake project is working as designed to hold back water until streams such as the Licking River can take additional releases from the lake without adding to flood levels. The Licking River at Blue Lick Springs, a control point for governing releases from Cave Run Reservoir, continues to rise. The Corps will continue to release low levels from the lake until the releases can be increased based on the downstream levels.

Heavy rainfall at Cave Run Reservoir could lead to overflow through the spillway. This is a normal part of the dam design. The spillway is a design safety measure to assure the dam’s integrity.
USACE is working alongside Kentucky Emergency Management, as well as state and local officials to monitor the high pool levels and prepare for the impact of more rain.
Citizens around Farmers are encouraged to monitor local weather forecasts and NOAA weather alert radios and be prepared to leave the area if necessary.

"We are in frequent contact with our partners at the USACE, and Kentucky Emergency Management is prepared to offer any support if requested," said Mike Dossett, KYEM Director. "This is a good time for everyone to review their emergency plan."

For lake levels and additional information, contact Cave Run Lake for a recorded message at 606-783-7001. The lake is releasing 185 cubic feet per second with no expected change until downstream can accept higher releases.

Cave Run Lake Office can be contacted at 606-784-9709 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.