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BARKLEY
LAKE
Purchase and View MAPS
of Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley was impounded by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers in 1966. The dam impounds the Cumberland River near Grand
Rivers, Kentucky, approximately 38 miles up stream from where the
Cumberland empties into the Ohio River. One mile 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 with Land Between the
Lakes recreational area located between them. Lake Barkley is 134
miles long with a shoreline measuring 1,004 miles. The lake's level is
fluctuated from summer to winter for flood control purposes. Summer
pool (359 ft. sea level) is normally reached by May 1. The water level
begins dropping gradually on July 1, and winter pool (354 ft.) is
reached by December 1. The spring rise starts April 1. The lake's
water surface area varies accordingly from 57,920 acres at summer pool
to 45,210 acres at winter pool.
As with the
formation of Kentucky Lake, communities were flooded in the 1960's to
build Lake Barkley. You may hear someone refer to Eddyville and
"Old Eddyville", as well as Kuttawa and "Old Kuttawa". The "Old"
areas were the portions of the cities that were left above the water
after the areas were flooded. You will notice these old areas
are now lakefront. The present day cities were created after the
lake was formed. Old foundations and streets, previously
flooded, are still visible during winter pool. Highways were
even relocated including US 68 and US 62 along with state routes and
smaller streets. The Illinois Central Railroad was relocated and
can still be seen under water from low flying planes above.
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