Virtual Public Meeting Scheduled for Panbowl Lake Dam
KYTC holding virtual public meeting to discuss findings and next steps
JACKSON, Ky. – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will hold a virtual public meeting later this month to discuss the Panbowl Lake dam in Jackson. A detailed engineering analysis of the dam is nearly complete following last year’s historic flooding in Breathitt County.
The public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27 via Zoom. Attendees must register in advance at https://bit.ly/panbowl-meeting to receive a confirmation email and meeting link. Attendees can also use a dial-in option by calling 888-475-4499 and using Meeting ID number 897-7277-3177 to join the meeting by phone. Due to concerns related to COVID-19, an in-person public meeting will not be held.
Panbowl Lake was created in the 1960s when part of the North Fork of the Kentucky River was impounded during construction of KY Highway 15. The highway serves as a dam, making an earthen embankment at each end of the old river channel. KY 15 separates Panbowl Lake from the winding river at the west embankment.
That embankment began to slip in March 2021 after heavy rains caused the North Fork of the Kentucky River to flood. The river crested at 39 feet, the tenth-highest level on record in Jackson and the worst since 1984. Panbowl Lake also flooded, damaging many nearby homes and properties.
KYTC personnel worked quickly to control erosion and seepage at the west embankment using temporary sandbags. The dam did not breach, and KY 15 remained open to traffic.
In the wake of the historic flood, KYTC officials and engineering consultants evaluated the condition of the embankments and conducted a hydrologic and hydraulic study of Panbowl Lake. The KYTC District 10 office has already made repairs to a riser standpipe near the east embankment to prevent debris from affecting water flow. Personnel have also cleared a large amount of vegetation around the lake and river embankments.
Additional recommendations for the Panbowl dam and steps forward to ensure its long-term safety will be outlined during the virtual public meeting, which will also include a question-and-answer period. The meeting will be recorded, transcribed and posted online for those unable to attend the live event.
Those who wish to view project displays in person can schedule appointments to visit the Department of Highways District 10 Office at 473 Highway 15 South, Jackson, between Jan. 31 – Feb. 11. This option is available for those who may not have reliable internet access or who otherwise need to physically inspect project displays. To schedule an appointment, contact Aric Skaggs at the District 10 office at (606) 666-8841.
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