Save Otter Lake

03/05/2026

Thank you to the neighbors that were able to attend the meeting yesterday.
In a unanimous vote, it was decided to proceed forward with the open spillway and closure of the road over the dam. This is the path of least resistance to save the lake. We still need your help! We are accepting donations AND pledges for future donations. Please visit our website at otterlakeconservation.org or you can email [email protected] to make a pledge!

03/02/2026

The neighborhood meeting has been relocated due to predicted rain on Tuesday. Plan to meet at the same date & time, but at the 911 Billing Service office at 1320 Island Ford Road. The meeting will be in the Training Room/Shop located at the rear of the parking lot. Please share with affected neighbors.

02/21/2026

Update 02.21.26

After meeting with the county and engineering, there are 3 potential paths forward for the lake.
1. Build an open spillway and close the road over the dam. This is the least expensive option and will save the lake. We still need to contribute $100,000 to this project to move forward. The obvious downside is the lack of access across the dam. Police, ambulances, fire trucks, and school buses will have a longer route to get to north side of Otter Lake Loop and Rainbow Lane. This could especially be problematic with winter weather on those hills.
2. Replace the spillway way with 2 large box culverts. This is a more expensive repair. The positive of this solution is that the road across the dam can remain in place. The downside is that the lake, once allowed to fill back up, will be about 2 feet lower than it used to be at normal levels. For this solution, we need to contribute $150,000.
3. Nothing happens. The lake and the road across the dam goes away. Everyone's property values goes down and we have a huge eyesore in our backyard. A 70+ year old Hopkins County treasure disappears forever. This is what could happen without continued financial help from our neighbors and community.

The lake is going to be lowered further to place an elbow pipe on the valve to maintain the drawdown at 10 feet (See previous post).

We have $20,000 raised for the repairs. We are still a long way off from where we need to be. The deadline for repair completion is June 30th.

A pamphlet will be going out to neighbors and a neighborhood meeting scheduled for further discussion.

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to pledge a donation. Let's Save Otter Lake!!

Help save Otter Lake in Hanson, Kentucky. The dam needs urgent repair to protect this 70-year-old fishing and boating destination.

02/18/2026

Update 2.17.26

The new engineering design submitted to the State, as mentioned in our November post, has been DENIED by the Cabinet's engineer. We are back to the drawing board. The bridge system to accommodate the large culvert and maintain the road across the dam remains out of budget. Meetings are scheduled to format a new path forward. There is a possibility that the road over the dam may have to be permanently closed in order to save Otter Lake. Alternate routes have been explored (connecting Rainbow Lane to Shakerag), but it seems unlikely to get approval from stakeholders. We are also actively engaging other State officials for guidance and aid.

More information will be forthcoming as discussions continue.

11/23/2025

Update as of 11.23.25

The county and the Otter Lake Conservation Society have been granted an extension by the State until June 30, 2026 for the repairs to the dam.

The Otter Lake Conservation Society Board has been in discussions with County officials and project engineers. Repairs have been postponed due to the original approved construction plan being out to bid multiple times, with each bid coming in exceedingly over budget.

There have been ongoing issues with the installed siphon system, making it difficult and expensive to maintain the lake at the required 10 foot drawdown.

The plan forward:
There needs to be a consistent process to maintain the 10 ft drawdown. The lake will need to be drawn down a few more feet to locate the end of the current valve pipe. An elbow will be placed with an extended pipe to the 10 foot mark, allowing a consistent drainage system to the 10 ft mark until the repairs are completed. Once completed, the siphon system will be updated and the old valve will be grouted.

New designs have been submitted to the State for approval that will meet the regulatory requirement for the 100 year storm and also be more budget friendly.

This design will have a culvert smaller than the "28.5 inches of rain in 6 hours" requirement and the road over the culvert will need to be lowered by five feet. This will create another overflow option, similar to what is being used at Lake Beshear. The road across the dam will have to be closed for 30-60 days (likely around March/ April 2026) and the grading will span around 170 feet of the road.

We have raised nearly $20,000 towards our committed $100,000 for the repair project. We sincerely thank everyone that has contributed and to those that continue to contribute monthly!

We still need your help!! There are several ways to donate to our 501c3 tax exempt organization before the end of the year.

08/05/2025

Update: There has been very little movement on the water draw down. It appears that the siphon system and valve have been tampered with on multiple occasions over the past few weeks causing loss of flow.
Whoever has been tampering with the valve may believe that they are helping our cause, but it is just the opposite. It only delays the eventual repair of the dam. If you truly want to help, please donate and leave the valve alone.

07/19/2025

Update: Otter Lake is currently down about 70 inches. Per the mediation agreement last fall, the State is requiring 120 inches (10 ft) lowered until the repairs are completed and the work is approved by the State. We have about 10% of the funds we need to support the project.
There are multiple ways to donate! (See image below). Even a modest monthly payment can go a long way to help restore the lake. If every home in the neighborhood donated $170 a month over the next year, we would reach our goal!! We appreciate any support you can provide!

07/01/2025

Per the mediation agreement between the Otter Lake Conservation Society, Hopkins Co Fiscal Court, City of Madisonville, Kenergy, and the KY Cabinet of Energy and Environmental Services; the following will be occurring immediately
1. Otter Lake water level will be lowered by 10 feet over the next 10-15 days starting this week.
2. City of Madisonville will be moving their water line off of the dam and rerouting around the lake
3. Kenergy will be moving their poles away from the dam
4. OLCS must raise money to support the repairs ($100,000-$150,000)
5. Hopkins Co is responsible for the remainder of the repair costs ($500,000+), which will take place summer 2025
6. Once repairs are approved by the Cabinet, the Otter Lake water level will be allowed to return to normal (expected summer 2026)
7. If the repairs are not done, the Cabinet will completely drain the lake and destroy the dam and road
8. Please visit otterlakeconservation.org to learn how you can help SAVE OTTER LAKE! Follow SAVE OTTER LAKE on Facebook to learn about fundraisers and events

Otter Lake Conservation Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to protect, conserve, enhance, and restore Otter Lake and the Otter Lake watershed to ensure its sustainability for the benefit and collective use and enjoyment for this and future generations.

05/12/2025

Thank you to all that came out to the Brian Bates Comedy show! It was a blast 😆 Keep following for future events! Learn more about us at otterlakeconservation.org

05/07/2025

We are only 2 days away!! Buy your tickets NOW for a fun, family friendly event and help us SAVE OTTER LAKE!
Doors open at 6pm and local food trucks will be available at 530pm. Show starts at 7pm!!

MNHHS cheerleaders will also be in attendance with their amazing hot fudge cakes !

05/04/2025

Come see Brian Bates at the Ballard convention center on May 9th! Doors open at 6pm and show starts at 7pm. Local food trucks will be there at 530.

Proceeds will go to support the restoration of Otter Lake dam and the Madisonville North cheer team. Please come support these two great causes and have a family friendly night of fun and laughs!!

Get your tickets at otterlakeconservation.org