Dewey Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dewey Lake |
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Lake and dam
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 Dewey Lake
Location in Kentucky
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| Location | Floyd County, Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 37°44′08″N 82°43′40″W / 37.73556°N 82.72778°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | John's Creek |
| Primary outflows | John's Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,100 acres (4 km2) |
| Average depth | 40 feet (12 m) |
Dewey Lake is a large lake located near Prestonsburg, Kentucky. It's in Floyd County. This lake helps control floods in the Ohio River Basin. The United States Army Corps of Engineers manages it.
The lake was created in 1949. It was made by building a dam across John's Creek. The lake is named after Admiral George Dewey. It covers about 1,100 acres (4.5 square kilometers).
You can find Jenny Wiley State Resort Park right on Dewey Lake.
Contents
About Dewey Lake and Its Dam
How the Lake Was Formed
Dewey Lake was created by building a big wall called a dam. This dam holds back the water from John's Creek. The lake is about 18.5 miles long upstream from the dam. Its watershed, which is the area of land where all the water drains into the lake, covers 207 square miles.
Dewey Dam: A Closer Look
The dam that formed Dewey Lake is called Dewey Dam. It's an earthen dam, meaning it's made mostly of earth and rock. This dam stands 118 feet (about 36 meters) high. Its main job is to help prevent floods in the area.
Fun Things to Do at Dewey Lake
Fishing Adventures
Dewey Lake is a great spot for fishing! It's known for having many different kinds of fish. One exciting catch happened here: the biggest tiger muskie ever caught in Kentucky was found in Dewey Lake. This huge fish weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces!
