| Green River Lake | |
|---|---|
  Green River Lake | |
| Location | Adair /Taylor /Casey counties,Kentucky,United States |
| Coordinates | 37°15′08″N85°19′51″W / 37.2522°N 85.3308°W /37.2522; -85.3308 |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Green River |
| Primary outflows | Green River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 8,200 acres (33 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 663 ft (202 m)[1] |
Green River Lake is a 8,210-acre (33 km2)reservoir inAdair,Taylor, andCasey counties inKentucky lying in the section of Kentucky known as the Highland Rim.
The lake was developed by theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers in 1969 by impounding theGreen River. The dam is an 11 miles (18 km) drive equidistant from the cities ofCampbellsville andColumbia. The lake is located 90 miles southeast ofLouisville.
Operated and maintained primarily for flood control, the lake has become the major attraction ofGreen River Lake State Park.[2]
The earthen dam (National ID # KY03007, at37°14′46″N85°20′24″W / 37.246°N 85.340°W /37.246; -85.340 (Green River Lake Dam)), owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers, stands 144 feet (44 m) high, with a length of 2,350 feet (720 m) at its crest. Its riverine reservoir has a normal surface area of 12.8 square miles (33 km2), a maximum capacity of723200acre-feet (892100000 m3), and normal storage of244100 acre-feet (301100000 m3).[3][4] The US$33.4 million construction cost of the Green River Lake Project was authorized by theFlood Control Act of 1938.[5]
Green River Lake is the largest project in the Louisville District—counting both the land and water acreage (33,793 acres). The Green River is the longest river, at 370 miles (600 km), to flow completely within theCommonwealth of Kentucky's borders. Green River Lake also is home to the first Interpretative Center, opened in 1972, in the Louisville Engineer District.[6]
According to the US Army Corps of Engineers website: "Green River Lake has prevented over $123.39 million in flood damages since impoundment, and in fiscal year 2008 alone the lake generated approximately $34.75 million in visitor expenditures. In addition to flood protection and recreation, Corps lakes provide immeasurable benefits to the local economy.
Prior records:
Under former MayorRobert L. Miller,Campbellsville developed a water line from Green River Lake to serve the city, the seat ofTaylor County.[7]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
