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Lake Cumberland

Kentucky · Reservoir impounded 1952 · near Somerset

63,530 acres 200 ft deep 15 ft clarity Water C
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5.7SCORE
Survey summary · Kentucky
63,530
Surface acres
200 ft
Max depth
1,255 mi
Shoreline
15 ft
Typical clarity
723 ft
Elevation

Lake Cumberland covers 63,530 acres in Kentucky and drops to 200 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1952 and managed by USACE. Water level is the thing to understand here: the pool can move roughly 45 feet, typically drawn down in winter. That changes dock function, boat access, and what the shoreline looks like in listing photos versus in person. Short-term rental posture: County by county. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Deep water — 200 ft max
  • Large open water, 63,530 acres
  • 1255 miles of shoreline
  • Houseboating
  • Boating

Watch outs

  • Seasonal drawdown near 45 ft — verify dock reach at low pool
  • Multi-year level volatility; review historical pool elevation before buying
  • USACE shoreline permitting — private dock approval is not guaranteed

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 6.0
Recreation 7.2
Value 3.5
Access 7.3
Investment 4.7

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Striped bassWalleyeSmallmouth bassTrout

On the water

HouseboatingBoatingFishingCliff jumping
No USGS gauge on this lake. Water level and clarity figures below come from published lake management data rather than a live sensor.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs winter low · Lake Cumberland
45 ft FULL POOL WINTER LOW

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 45 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 205 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 415 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 200 ft max avg 64 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 200 ft, average 64 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityVolatile Typical drawdown45 ft Drawdown seasonWinter Trophic stateOligotrophic Typical clarity15 ft Water quality gradeC Elevation723 ft Managing authorityUSACE
This lake moves. A drawdown near 45 feet changes dock reach, boat access, and the look of the shoreline. Tour in the low season, or at minimum look at the gauge history above before you offer.

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityUSACE Nashville District Wake / speed rulesNo-wake in coves
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with USACE Nashville District that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

County by county

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$600,000
Median waterfront
$7,330
Per shoreline foot
+4.2%
Year over year
214
Est. inventory
56
Avg days on market
$289
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy48% Booked nights / yr126 Gross revenue$43,748 Net operating income$18,825 Yield on median price3.14%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake Cumberland actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$5,154
All-in per month
$137,650
Cash to close + setup
$15,090
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$61,845 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $37,935 (63%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $6,600 (11%) Property taxes $6,300 (10%) Utilities $2,700 (4%) Hazard insurance $2,520 (4%) Flood insurance $2,400 (4%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (2%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$37,935
Property taxes$6,300
Hazard insurance$2,520
Flood insurance$2,400
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$6,600
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$61,845
Model your own numbers →

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