Newest reservoirs in Kentucky
The year that a reservoir was first filled to the reservoir’s normal elevation – or the year that a natural lake was first dammed – is the determining factor in the age of the body of water. A large reservoir can take more than a year to fill after its dam is first closed. You can find many of the the world’s newest reservoirs on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Many of the world’s oldest reservoirs appear on the last page of that list. Note: For some lakes, the completion year data is unknown, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 17 articles we have published for Kentucky lakes.Thinking about booking a Kentucky lake vacation home rental, cabin or hotel?
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Kentucky > Compared by newest (youngest) reservoirs and the year it was completed. This list does not represent all lakes in Kentucky, only the 17 Kentucky lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Completion year |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Taylorsville Lake, KY (Kentucky, Kentucky Derby Region, KY, US South Region, USA) |
1983 | Located in central Kentucky just 25 miles southeast of Louisville is 3,050 acre Taylorsville Lake. Created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1983… |
| Paintsville Lake, KY (Appalachians Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1983 | Sharing acreage of both Johnson and Morgan counties in eastern Kentucky, Paintsville Lake has been a recreational staple since its creation in 1983. T… |
| Laurel River Lake, KY (Daniel Boone Country, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1974 | Laurel River Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1974 to provide flood control and hydroelectric power to its neighboring areas, b… |
| Cave Run Lake, KY (Appalachians Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1973 | Cave Run Lake, located in the Eastern Highlands Region of Kentucky, is an 8,270-acre manmade reservoir. Originally built by the U.S. Army Corps of Eng… |
| Green River Lake, KY (Kentucky, Southern Lakes Region, KY, US South Region, USA) |
1969 | The children scrambled after each other, racing up the steps to the slide. Then they were off – sliding and squealing landing with a splash in the wat… |
| Grayson Lake, KY (Appalachians Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1968 | He tees up, shoulders square to the ball and swings. The ball sails down the fairway, past the clean, clear water and weathered sandstone cliffs. Any… |
| Lake Barkley, KY/TN (Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, Western Waterlands Region, KY) |
1966 | Lake Barkley is one of the premier recreational destinations in Western Kentucky. The reservoir was created by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1966 for… |
| Barren River Lake, KY (Caves, Lakes & Corvettes Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1964 | Barren River Lake, located in south-central Kentucky, is one of the state’s hidden jewels, covering over 10,100 acres. The lake was created by the Lou… |
| Nolin River Lake, KY (Caves, Lakes & Corvettes Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1963 | Tucked into the hills of south central Kentucky, 5,795 acre Nolin River Lake shares residence among Edmonson, Grayson, and Hart counties. Created by t… |
| Lake Malone, KY (Bluegrass, Blues & Barbecue Region, KY, Kentucky, US South Region, USA) |
1961 | Lake Malone is situated in the heart of the Kentucky wilderness, part of the “Bluegrass, Blues and Barbecue” tourism region. Shaped like a large sidew… |
| Rough River Lake, KY (Kentucky, Kentucky Derby Region, KY, US South Region, USA) |
1951 | Straddling the Grayson, Breckinridge, and Hardin County lines in south central Kentucky, Rough River Lake is a 5,100 acre reservoir completed in 1951… |
| Lake Cumberland, KY (Kentucky, Southern Lakes Region, KY, US South Region, USA) |
1950 | Lake Cumberland boasts an impressive 50,250 acres and 1,255 miles of winding shoreline at its normal full pool level of 723 feet above sea level. The… |