Wolf Creek Dam is a multi-purpose dam on the Cumberland River in the western part of Russell County, Kentucky. The dam serves at once four distinct purposes: it generates hydroelectricity; it regulates and limits flooding; it releases stored water to permit year-round navigation on the Cumberland River; and it creates Lake Cumberland for recreation, the largest man-made lake by volume east of the Mississippi river.
The tail water of the dam is the only "whitewater" but still pretty heavy flow. This location has had 3 close calls this year at least. The whitewater section of the cumberland is upstrream of the lake. There isnt any flow over the spillway usually at all but especially at this level of the lake. The flume creates eddys that pull people against the dam wall and then into the outflow.He probably was pulled into the flume from downstream.
Kayaker in critical condition after incident near Ky. dam
By WKYT News Staff
Sep. 1, 2025
RUSSELL COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A kayaker is in critical condition after capsizing in the cold waters near Wolf Creek Dam Sunday morning. According to Russell County Search & Rescue, the incident happened around 9 a.m. Monday. Emergency crews were dispatched after reports that a kayaker had overturned in frigid water. Officials say the kayaker was wearing a personal flotation device, and a nearby boater acted quickly to pull the individual from the water before crews arrived. Despite the life vest, the kayaker had ingested a life-threatening amount of water. Emergency responders coordinated a rapid rescue effort, and the person was airlifted to UK Hospital for further treatment.
