Everything about Lake Cumberland totally explained
Lake Cumberland is an
artificial lake in
Clinton,
Laurel,
McCreary,
Pulaski,
Russell, and
Wayne counties in
Kentucky. 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 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. The water level, currently at its winter fill level of 690 feet (210 m) altitude, is scheduled to be lowered to a level of 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.
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.
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., including:
Statistics
| January |
48 °F |
9 °C |
| February |
44 °F |
7 °C |
| March |
48 °F |
9 °C |
| April |
55 °F |
13 °C |
| May |
66 °F |
19 °C |
| June |
76 °F |
24 °C |
| July |
82 °F |
28 °C |
| August |
84 °F |
29 °C |
| September |
79 °F |
26 °C |
| October |
70 °F |
21 °C |
| November |
58 °F |
14 °C |
| December |
51 °F |
11 °C |
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.
Further Information
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