Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley, a 58,000-acre (230 km2) reservoir in Livingston County, Lyon County and Trigg County in Kentucky and extending into Stewart County and Houston County in Tennessee, was impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1966 upon the completion of Barkley Dam. Both the lake and the dam are named for Vice President Alben Barkley, a Kentucky native.
| Lake Barkley | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Lake Barkley is on the right. The canal connecting Lake Barkley to Kentucky Lake is visible at left-center. | |
Lake Barkley Lake Barkley | |
| Location | Livingston County, Lyon County and Trigg County in Kentucky; Stewart County and Houston County in Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 37°01′15″N 88°13′22″W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 216 km (134 mi) |
| Surface area | 234 km2 (90 sq mi) |
| Water volume | Maximum: 2,082,000 acre⋅ft (2.568 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 109 m (358 ft) |
The dam impounds the Cumberland River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky, approximately 38 miles (61 km) upstream from where the Cumberland empties into the Ohio River. One mile (1.6 km) above the dam is a canal connecting Lake Barkley with Kentucky Lake, forming one of the greatest freshwater recreational complexes in the country. The lakes run parallel courses for more than 50 miles (80 km), with the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area located between them.
Lake Barkley is 134 miles (216 km) long with a shoreline measuring 1,004 miles (1,616 km). The lake's level is maintained at different levels throughout the year for flood control purposes. Summer pool, 359 ft (109 m) above sea level, is normally reached by May 1. The water level begins dropping gradually on July 1, and winter pool (354 ft; 108 m) is reached by December 1. The spring rise starts April 1. The lake's water surface area varies accordingly from 57,920 acres (234.4 km2) at summer pool to 45,210 acres (183.0 km2) at winter pool.