Taylorsville Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taylorsville Lake |
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 Taylorsville Lake
Location in Kentucky
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| Location | Spencer County, Kentucky |
| Coordinates | 37°59′40″N 85°14′18″W / 37.994539°N 85.238457°W |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Salt River |
| Primary outflows | Salt River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 18.5 mi (29.8 km) |
| Surface area | 3,050 acres (12.3 km2) |
| Surface elevation | 542 ft (165 m) |
Taylorsville Lake is a large, human-made lake in Spencer County, Kentucky. It covers about 3,050-acre (1,230 ha) of land. This lake was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Construction started in 1974, and the lake began to fill with water in 1983. The total cost to build it was $103 million.
The lake is about 18.5 miles (29.8 km) long. Parts of the lake also reach into Nelson County and Anderson County. The lake's dam is on the Salt River. It has stopped over $30.5 million in flood damage since it opened. Taylorsville Lake is named after Taylorsville, the main town in Spencer County. Today, it is very important for the local economy. It is also a popular spot for fishing. A part of the lake's northern shore is home to Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Contents
Taylorsville Lake Dam: How It Works
The Taylorsville Lake Dam is a big structure made of earth. The United States Army Corps of Engineers owns and runs it. This dam is 162 feet tall and 1280 feet long at the top. Its main jobs are to control floods and offer fun activities. The lake behind the dam covers about 4.8 square miles. It can hold a lot of water, up to 291,670 acre-feet. This helps protect nearby areas from flooding.
Lake Life: Plants and Animals
The water in Taylorsville Lake often looks cloudy. This is because a lot of silt washes into it from farms upstream. When the lake was first made, many trees were left standing in the water. These trees are still there today. They provide great hiding spots for the lake's wildlife.
Fish Species in Taylorsville Lake
You can often see Blue Herons at the lake. They like to eat the many shad fish found there. The lake is home to several types of fish. Some of the main fish species include:
- Largemouth bass
- Hybrid striped bass
- White crappie
- Black crappie
- Channel catfish
- Blue catfish
- Freshwater drum perch
Fun Things to Do at Taylorsville Lake
Taylorsville Lake is a very popular place for outdoor fun. On nice weekends, especially during holidays, it can get quite busy. If you are new to boating here, be careful. There are still standing trees just under the water's surface outside the main river channel.
Popular Boating Spots
The two most popular places to launch boats are Settlers Trace and Possum Ridge. Possum Ridge is also known as the State Park Ramp. Both are in the northwestern part of the lake. There are also two smaller boat ramps further upstream. These are called Chowning Lane and Van Buren.
Activities on the Water
Many people enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing on the lake. Jet skiing is also a favorite activity. Fishing and general boating are very popular too. There is even a small course for waterskiing. Because the lake is close to Louisville, a major city, many people come here to fish. This means fishing can sometimes be a bit challenging. You might often see people fishing for catfish using jugs.
