Lake Cumberland

Lake Cumberland
Lake Cumberland as viewed at Wolf Creek Dam
Location	Clinton, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne Counties, Kentucky
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	265.2 km²
Surface elevation	220 m

Lake Cumberland is an artificial lake in Clinton, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, and Wayne counties in Kentucky.^[1] The primary reasons for its construction were a means for flood control and the production of hydroelectric power. Its shoreline measures 1,255 miles (2,020 km) and the lake is spread over 65,530 acres (265.2 km²) at the top of the power pool. The reservoir ranks 9th in the U.S. in size, with a capacity of 6.1 million acre-feet (7.5 km³) of water, enough to cover the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky with 3 inches (76 mm) of water. The main lake is  miles ( km) long and over one mile (1.6 km) across at its widest point. The lake has become a major source of tourism and an economic engine for south-central Kentucky.

History

Lake Cumberland impounded from the Cumberland River by the United States Army Corps of Engineers' construction of the Wolf Creek Dam in 1952.^[1] Wolf Creek Dam is the 22nd largest dam in the United States, and cost $15 million to construct originally, with an additional $65 million needed almost immediately to fix problems which became soon apparent. It is estimated that the dam has prevented more than $500 million in flood damages since its construction.

Risk of dam failure

In 1967 a leak was found at the Wolf Creek Dam. Repairs were made in the late seventies at a cost of over $96 million.

On January 22, 2007, the United States Army Corps of Engineers began lowering the water level in Lake Cumberland, fearing a break in Wolf Creek Dam. Water seepage has eroded the limestone under the dam, creating the potential for a breach and subsequent flood that would cause damages into the billions of dollars in cities downstream, including Nashville, Tennessee.^[2] The water level, currently at its winter fill level of 690 feet (210 m) altitude, is scheduled to be lowered to a level of  feet ( m) rather than being allowed to fill to its summer fill level of 723 feet (220 m), reducing the lake's summer surface area from 50,000 to 35,000 acres (200 to 140 km²). The Corps of Engineers will then attempt to curb the leakage by filling affected areas with grout while simultaneously filling a portion of the dam with concrete as a more permanent solution.^[3]

The drop in water level is expected to have a negative impact on the area's tourism industry as marinas scramble to adjust their facilities for the lower water level. Total cost to tourism-related businesses is expected to exceed $12 million.^[3] By June 2007, wildlife officials were already beginning to notice higher-than-normal water temperatures in the lake, which posed a major threat to the lake's brown and rainbow trout populations.^[4]

Uses

Power generation

Wolf Creek Dam's six turbines are capable of supplying the needs of an average city (population of 375,000) via 270 megawatts of electricity. The power generating capacity is considered "dead" when the lake's water level is below 673 feet (205 m).

Recreation

In 1999, approximately 4.75 million visitors added more than $152.4 million to the local economy. Of the 383 lakes controlled or maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Cumberland ranks 4th in the nation for the number of visitor hours. Over 1,500 houseboats float on Lake Cumberland and numerous power boats ply its waters.

Lake Cumberland is home to two Kentucky state parks: Lake Cumberland State Resort Park on its shore and General Burnside State Park on an island in the middle of the lake.^[1]

Several of Kentucky's record fish have been taken in the waters of Lake Cumberland^[5], including:

• Brown trout (21 lb.)
• Lake trout (5 lb., 5 oz.)
• Rainbow trout (14 lb., 6 oz.)
• Sauger (7 lb., 7 oz.)
• Striped bass (58 lb., 4 oz.)
• Sturgeon (36 lb., 8 oz.)
• Walleye (21 lb., 8 oz.)

Statistics

• The normal summer pool is around 723 feet (220 m) above mean sea level.
• The tree line is about 725 feet (221 m).
• The maximum pool is 760 feet (232 m) at the top of dam floodgates
• The top of Wolf Creek Dam is 773 feet (236 m).
• Lake is considered at "flood control" level from 723 to 760 feet (220 to 232 m).
• Normal power drawdown is between 723 and 673 feet (220 to 205 m).
• At 760 feet (232 m) elevation, the shoreline of Lake Cumberland is 1,255 miles (2,020 km).
• At maximum possible elevation of 760 feet (232 m), Lake Cumberland is considered to be 101 miles (163 km) long, with a total surface area of 65,530 acres (265.2 km²).
• Surface area at 723 feet (220 m) is 50,250 acres (203 km²).
• At minimum power pool of 673 feet (205 m), the surface area is 35,820 acres (145.0 km²).
• Average depth of lake at summer pool of 723 feet (220 m) above sea level: 90 feet (27 m)
• Deepest point in lake: original river channel adjacent to Wolf Creek Dam: 200 feet (60 m)
• Depth of river channel upstream of dam to Wolf Creek: generally 160 feet (50 m)
• Depth of river channel upstream of Wolf Creek to one mile (2 km) upstream of Burnside: generally 120 feet (37 m)

The lowest water level recorded (since construction) was 675.10 feet (205.77 m) above mean sea level on January 27, 1981. The highest water level recorded was 751.70 feet (229.12 m) above mean sea level at 2:00AM, May 13, 1984.

References

See also

• General Burnside State Park
• Lake Cumberland State Resort Park

External links

• Lake Cumberland Directory
• Lake Cumberland Live Directory
• SuperSomerset - Lake Cumberland News

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