Overview
Herrington Lake is a roughly 2,335-acre reservoir on the Dix River in Mercer, Garrard, and Boyle counties, about 25 miles south of Lexington. It was created when Kentucky Utilities completed Dix Dam in the mid-1920s for hydroelectric power; the dam and shoreline to elevation 760 remain owned by Kentucky Utilities beside the E.W. Brown generating complex. It is Kentucky's oldest major reservoir and among its deepest.
About 35 miles long with roughly 92 miles of shoreline, Herrington averages near 78 feet deep and reaches about 249 feet near the dam. Steep rock walls, flooded timber in places, and long sloping points give the lower lake a rugged gorge character uncommon among Kentucky power lakes.
The lake is popular for boating and fishing for largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Marinas and public access points serve the residential shoreline between Danville and the High Bridge area.
Water levels are managed by Kentucky Utilities for hydropower, with summer pool commonly near 735 to 740 feet above mean sea level and a lower winter pool near 725 feet; KU ownership extends to elevation 760. Monitoring current lake levels is helpful for boating, fishing, and dock access as generation and rainfall move the Dix River pool.
Current Conditions
Herrington Lake is currently 1.31 feet above full pool and has been rising over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 1.48 ft
- 30-day changeDown 1.09 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Herrington Lake is a 2,335-acre reservoir on the Dix River managed by Kentucky Utilities / E.W. Brown Plant.