Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to Hold Meeting on Safety of Flood-Damaged Dam

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Ten months ago, historic flooding in eastern Kentucky displaced dozens of people and damaged homes and businesses all along the Kentucky River. The flooding also caused an embankment on Panbowl Lake, near Jackson, Kentucky, to begin to slip, raising new concerns that the dam could break and flood nearby communities.

Next week, officials will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss an engineering study that outlines ways to ensure the long-term safety of the dam, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said.

The virtual meeting will be held Jan. 27 at 6 p.m., and those who want to attend must preregister here. They will receive a meeting link via email. A dial-in option is also available and can be accessed by calling 888-475-4499 and entering meeting ID number 897-7277-3177.

An in-person meeting isn’t planned due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Panbowl Lake was created when part of the North Fork of the Kentucky River was impounded during construction of State Road 15. The roadway serves as a dam, making an earthen embankment at each end of the old river channel.

A detailed engineering analysis of the dam is nearly complete and the meeting will go over recommended safety steps, officials said. It will be posted online for anyone unable to attend, officials said.

Photo: The city of Beattyville, Kentucky, not far from Jackson and Panbowl Lake, sits underwater following heavy rains that caused the Kentucky River to flood, Tuesday, March 2, 2021. (Alex Slitz/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)