Nolin River Lake History

Nolin River Lake History. . The Nolin River is named for the early American explorer and Kentucky militia member Benjamin Lynn. Serving under George Rogers Clark during the Revolutionary War, Lynn traveled to Illinois to spy on the British and Indian forces, and also played a pivotal role in the Northwest campaign in 1778-79. Following his return to Kentucky, Lynn and several friends were camped in the Green River area. Lynn became separated from his friends and could not be found for several days. Each night, they returned from the search reporting “No Lynn”. The river at which they camped became known as the Nolin River., Many of the early settlers in the area around the Nolin River came from Nordic regions, which is reflected in community names such as Stockholm and Sweeden. Others came from France, showing influence through community names such as Moutardier and Chalybeate. Rich in culture, the local area mirrors history and tradition in small businesses around the lake. , Nolin River Dam is located about 8 miles above the confluence of the Nolin and Green Rivers, near the community of Bee Spring. While the dam is located in Edmonson County, the lake also covers portions of Grayson and Hart Counties. The dam is about 8 miles north of Brownsville, 20 miles from Leitchfield and 95 miles southwest of Louisville. , The dam was constructed to control flooding on the Nolin and Green Rivers as part of an overall “Comprehensive Flood Control Plan for the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers”. In 1931, a thorough survey of the area was completed and 7 possible locations for the dam were identified. The one selected offered the most control of flood waters and was the only one which appeared to offer any possibility of commercially feasible power development. However, the 1931 conclusion was that construction of this flood control reservoir was not justified at that time. , Following the Ohio River flooding of 1937, construction of an additional 45 reservoirs was recommended, including the Nolin River Reservoir. Construction was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, built, and continues to operate the project to reduce flooding downstream from the dam. , Construction of the operating tower and outlet works began in January 1959 and was completed in July 1961. Construction of the dam and spillway began in June 1961 and was completed in May 1963. The reservoir was placed in complete operation on March 4, 1963 and minimum pool (480’ elevation) was reached on March 7th (minimum / winter pool was 12’ lower back then – it’s 492’ now). Summer pool was not reached in 1963 due to insufficient runoff. , The total construction cost was $14.5 million, but the dam has saved an estimated $111 million in flood damages through 2013. In addition, economic benefits from the lake are between $35 and $45 million each year. Visitation averages about 2 million people each year. In addition to flood control and recreational benefits, the lake also supplies drinking water to the surrounding area, as well as providing fish and wildlife habitat.