The Nolin River takes its name from early American explorer and Kentucky militia member Benjamin Lynn, who served under George Rogers Clark during the Revolutionary War, traveled to Illinois to spy on British and Indian forces, and played a pivotal role in the Northwest campaign in 1778-79. After returning to Kentucky, Lynn became separated from friends while they were camped in the Green River area, and after several days of unsuccessful searching in which they reported “No Lynn,” the nearby river became known as the Nolin River. Many early settlers around the Nolin River came from Nordic regions, reflected in community names such as Stockholm and Sweeden, while others came from France, reflected in names such as Moutardier and Chalybeate. Nolin River Dam, near Bee Spring, is about 8 miles above the confluence of the Nolin and Green Rivers; although it is in Edmonson County, the lake also extends into Grayson and Hart Counties. The dam was built to control flooding on the Nolin and Green Rivers as part of the Comprehensive Flood Control Plan for the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. A thorough survey in 1931 identified seven possible dam sites, but construction was judged unjustified at that time. After the Ohio River flood of 1937, an additional 45 reservoirs were recommended, including the Nolin River Reservoir, and construction was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed, built, and continues to operate the project to reduce downstream flooding. Construction of the operating tower and outlet works began in January 1959 and was completed in July 1961, while construction of the dam and spillway began in June 1961 and was completed in May 1963. The reservoir entered complete operation on March 4, 1963, and reached minimum pool on March 7, though summer pool was not reached that year because of insufficient runoff. The total construction cost was $14.5 million, and through 2013 the dam had prevented an estimated $111 million in flood damage. The lake also generates annual economic benefits of between $35 and $45 million, receives about 2 million visitors each year, supplies drinking water to the surrounding area, and provides fish and wildlife habitat.