Herrington Lake, Kentucky’s first major reservoir, celebrates its centennial anniversary with the publication of a book by central Kentucky native Mike Holdren, who first visited the lake on fishing trips with his father in the 1970s.
Herrington Lake: Kentucky’s Marvel of Architecture, Waterpower & Nature “is the first ever book to detail the legacy of this historic, 100-year-old reservoir,” said Holdren, who worked on the book for two years. “(It was) written with support from Kentucky Utilities and the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).”
The six chapters are illustrated by over 200 original photographs and documents, many of which have never been seen by the public.
Herrington Lake was impounded from the Dix River. The 287-foot high dam, built in a deep gorge, is near Burgin, Kentucky, about three miles above the Dix River’s confluence with the Kentucky River at High Bridge.
Like all major reservoirs, its surface acreage varies seasonally. Its summer pool elevation is 735 to 740, creating 2,410 to 2,580 surface acres of water, with 92 miles of shoreline in three counties, Boyle, Garrard and Mercer. The 35-mile long lake is the deepest lake in the state, 249 feet deep at the dam.
The idea for the lake was conceived by Lewis Butler Herrington (1880-1952), who was president Kentucky Utilities from 1927 through 1933.
Herrington envisioned a plan for water sent through a turbine to generate electricity that could be sent to homes and businesses in a radius of about 125 miles. The plan succeed and helped advance Kentucky’s electric infrastructure into the modern era.
The lake was built to generate electricity, but it quickly became a top outdoors destination for fishing, boating, watersports and camping.
Fish stocked in the lake with varying success included black bass, crappie, rainbow trout, striped bass, and hybrid striped bass. In the early decades the spring white bass run in the upper lake and Dix River drew anglers from across Kentucky and bordering states.
Fishing pressure on the lake was intense. This led to KDFWR establishing daily creel limits on fish species, and angler licensing, which eventually became statewide regulations.
The lake created a real estate and tourism boom on the privately-owned land around the lakeshore. Marinas, fishing camps, resorts, and restaurants were built, along with hundreds of residential and vacation homes.
The 152-page 12 x 9-inch hardcover book, published by Acclaim Press, Morley, Missouri, sells for $49.95.
The book are available on Amazon, at Joseph Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Barnes & Noble and directly from the publisher www.acclaimpress.com.
Visit www.herringtonlakebook.com to view locations where the author will be selling and signing books.
Profits from book sales at signing events are pledged to the Herrington Lake Conservation League.
Holdren’s book is extensively researched and concisely written. It’s a compelling read, and a great gift for anyone who has visited this classic central Kentucky outdoors destination.
