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Cedar Creek Lake (Kentucky)
Encyclopedia
Cedar Creek Lake is a 784 acres (317.3 ha) reservoir
in eastern Lincoln County, Kentucky
, USA, between Stanford
and Crab Orchard
along U.S. Highway 150. Cedar Creek Lake is the second largest state-controlled lake in Kentucky
.
during the September 4, 2002, Cedar Creek Dam dedication. Cedar Creek Lake was a joint venture of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
(KDFW), Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
(KYTC), and the leaders of Lincoln County
—most importantly ex-Judge-Executive John Sims who envisioned the project. On February 16, 2003, due to excessive amounts of rain, the lake was filled sooner than predicted. This impounded 784 acres (317.3 ha) of the 14000 acres (5,665.6 ha) Cedar Creek watershed
, making Cedar Creek Lake the second largest state-controlled lake in Kentucky
(with Lake Malone
being the largest).
During the preparations for Cedar Creek Lake, it was decided to leave all trees and brush to provide a habitat for the future lake's many species of fish. In areas without trees and brush, cement-filled buckets with arrays of 5 feet (1.5 m) wooden sticks protruding out, packaging tarps, anchored downed trees, and other various fish habitat improvement structures were placed to fill in these bald areas. Any developments such as houses and certain sections of old US 150 were removed (except for the old US 150 bridge crossing Cedar Creek). The Hebron Methodist Church, the Vardeman/Holmes/Daws/Stephenson Family Cemetery
, and a small section of Kentucky Route 1770 were relocated before the lake's impoundment.
Cedar Creek Lake was included as part of the planning for the reconstruction of the 7.2 miles (11.6 km) section of U.S. Highway 150 (designated the John Sims Highway) between Stanford and Crab Orchard by the KYTC
. The construction of the earth-fill dam
was at a cost of $4 million USD. Of the $4 million, the KYTC paid $3.5 million and Lincoln County paid $0.5 million. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife paid for the purchase of the 1600 acres (647.5 ha) of land needed for the lake at the cost of $4.1 million and paid $300,000 for the lake's three boat ramps, parking facilities, and courtesy docks. Total cost of the project was nearly $8.5 million.
Future developments around Cedar Creek Lake will include a marina
and a public beach (no completion date is known at this time).
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in eastern Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, USA, between Stanford
Stanford, Kentucky
Stanford is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. It is one of the oldest settlements in Kentucky, having been founded in 1775. Its population was 3,430 at the 2000 census...
and Crab Orchard
Crab Orchard, Kentucky
Crab Orchard is a city in Lincoln County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 842 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
along U.S. Highway 150. Cedar Creek Lake is the second largest state-controlled lake in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Project history and information
"This project, first conceived in 1989, will soon result in a recreational and economic jewel for Lincoln County and this region," as said by Kentucky ex-Governor Paul E. PattonPaul E. Patton
Paul Edward Patton was the 59th governor of Kentucky, serving from 1995 to 2003. Because of a 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, he was the first governor eligible to succeed himself in office since James Garrard in 1800...
during the September 4, 2002, Cedar Creek Dam dedication. Cedar Creek Lake was a joint venture of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, is responsible for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and for boating projects in the state. A commissioner appointed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission heads the...
(KDFW), Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is Kentucky's state-funded agency charged with building and maintaining U.S...
(KYTC), and the leaders of Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Kentucky
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 24,742 in the 2010 Cesus. Its county seat is Stanford. Lincoln is a prohibition or "dry county" and is part of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
—most importantly ex-Judge-Executive John Sims who envisioned the project. On February 16, 2003, due to excessive amounts of rain, the lake was filled sooner than predicted. This impounded 784 acres (317.3 ha) of the 14000 acres (5,665.6 ha) Cedar Creek watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, making Cedar Creek Lake the second largest state-controlled lake in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
(with Lake Malone
Lake Malone
Lake Malone is a reservoir in Logan, Muhlenberg, and Todd counties in Kentucky. It was impounded from Rocky Creek in 1961 and named for Mr. and Mrs. Wallace C. Malone who donated a large tract of land for the lake.-External links:**...
being the largest).
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, and a small section of Kentucky Route 1770 were relocated before the lake's impoundment.
Cedar Creek Lake was included as part of the planning for the reconstruction of the 7.2 miles (11.6 km) section of U.S. Highway 150 (designated the John Sims Highway) between Stanford and Crab Orchard by the KYTC
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is Kentucky's state-funded agency charged with building and maintaining U.S...
. The construction of the earth-fill dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
was at a cost of $4 million USD. Of the $4 million, the KYTC paid $3.5 million and Lincoln County paid $0.5 million. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife paid for the purchase of the 1600 acres (647.5 ha) of land needed for the lake at the cost of $4.1 million and paid $300,000 for the lake's three boat ramps, parking facilities, and courtesy docks. Total cost of the project was nearly $8.5 million.
Future developments around Cedar Creek Lake will include a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
and a public beach (no completion date is known at this time).
Lake statistics
- Watershed: 14000 acres (5,665.6 ha), primarily agricultural: 45% pastureland, 35% woodland, and 19% cropland.
- Cedar Creek Lake features a larger than usual 300 feet (91.4 m) buffer zone to prevent private land encroachment problems.
Boat ramps
- John Sims Boat Ramp: The main boat ramp of Cedar Creek Lake located where the old Boone Rd becomes submerged. This boat ramp is named after John Sims, a previous Lincoln County Judge-Executive who helped start the Cedar Creek Lake project.
- Old US 150 Boat Ramp: Located at the end of the old US 150 on the west side of the lake.
- Cowan Road Boat Ramp: Located where Cowan Road becomes submerged off Kentucky Route 1770.
Future facilities
- Marina: Currently in the planning phases and will be built by Lincoln County.
- Public Beach: Currently under construction by Lincoln County.
Stock of fish
Cedar Creek Lake is inhabited by the following species of fish:- Largemouth bassLargemouth bassThe largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
- BluegillBluegillThe Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
- Black crappie
- Redear sunfishRedear sunfishThe redear sunfish , also known as the shellcracker, Georgia bream, cherry gill, chinquapin, improved bream, rouge ear sunfish and sun perch, is native to the southeastern United States, but since it is a popular sport fish it has been introduced to bodies of water all over North America...
- Channel catfishChannel catfishChannel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...