Taylorsville Lake
Encyclopedia
Taylorsville Lake is a 3050 acres (12.3 km²) artificial lake or reservoir
located mainly in Spencer County, Kentucky
. Construction by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
started in 1974, and flooding began in 1983. The total cost of the lake was $103 million.
Backwater areas of the lake are also located in Nelson County
and Anderson County
.
The dam is located on Salt River
, and it is estimated that it has prevented more than $30.5 million in flood damages since it became operational. The lake is named for Taylorsville
, the county seat of Spencer County, and today serves as a major economic source for Spencer County, as well as a popular fishing area. Taylorsville Lake State Park
surrounds the lake.
It is about 18.5 miles (29.8 km) long.
, striped bass
, hybrid striped bass
, white crappie, black crappie, channel catfish
, blue catfish
, and freshwater drum perch
.
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...
located mainly in Spencer County, Kentucky
Spencer County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,766 people, 4,251 households, and 3,358 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 4,555 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.50% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.22% Native...
. Construction by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
started in 1974, and flooding began in 1983. The total cost of the lake was $103 million.
Backwater areas of the lake are also located in Nelson County
Nelson County, Kentucky
Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 43,437. Its county seat is Bardstown. The county is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
and Anderson County
Anderson County, Kentucky
Anderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1827. In 2010 the population was 21,421. Its county seat is Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The county is named for Richard Clough Anderson, Jr., a Kentucky Legislator, U.S...
.
The dam is located on Salt River
Salt River (Kentucky)
The Salt River is a river in Kentucky that drains . It begins near Danville, Kentucky, rising from the north slope of Persimmon Knob south of KY 300 between Alum Springs and Wilsonville, and ends at the Ohio River near West Point...
, and it is estimated that it has prevented more than $30.5 million in flood damages since it became operational. The lake is named for Taylorsville
Taylorsville, Kentucky
Taylorsville is a city in Spencer County, Kentucky, United States. It is the county seat of Spencer County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,009 and was estimated at 1,275 in 2009. It was incorporated in 1829.-History:...
, the county seat of Spencer County, and today serves as a major economic source for Spencer County, as well as a popular fishing area. Taylorsville Lake State Park
Taylorsville Lake State Park
Taylorsville Lake State Park is a park encompassing in Spencer County, Kentucky, roughly between Louisville and Lexington. Taylorsville Lake, its major feature, extends into parts of Anderson County and Nelson County....
surrounds the lake.
It is about 18.5 miles (29.8 km) long.
Ecology
The lake's water is murky year round and contains a large amount of silt washed down from agricultural runoff up river. During the lake's creation there was a large amount of standing timber in the lake that still remains today. This timber provides cover for much of the lake's wildlife. Blue Herons are a common sight feeding upon the lake's ample supply of shad. Major fish species in the lake are largemouth bassLargemouth bass
The 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...
, striped bass
Striped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
, hybrid striped bass
Striped bass
The striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
, white crappie, black crappie, channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel 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...
, blue catfish
Blue catfish
The blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, is one of the largest species of North American catfish. Blue catfish are distributed primarily in the Mississippi River drainage including the Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Arkansas rivers...
, and freshwater drum perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
.