Dynegy/ Wood River East Ash Disposal Pond Dam
Dynegy/ Wood River East Ash Disposal Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Illinois, built in 2005. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Dynegy/ Wood River East Ash Disposal Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Dynegy/ Wood River East Ash Disposal Pond Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Dynegy Midwest Generation, Llc (public utility). It impounds the Trib Wood River near East Alton.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 5,315 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 506 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2005, the structure is relatively new.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/29/2023.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Illinois dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | East Alton |
| River/Stream | Trib Wood River |
| Coordinates | 38.87101, -90.13334 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,315 ft |
| Year Completed | 2005 (21 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 506 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 506 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 410 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 56 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | DYNEGY MIDWEST GENERATION, LLC |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/29/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50536 |
| Federal ID | IL50536 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |