Sugar Camp/mine 1/coal Refuse Disposal 1 Dam
Sugar Camp/mine 1/coal Refuse Disposal 1 Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Illinois. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sugar Camp/mine 1/coal Refuse Disposal 1 Dam
The primary purpose of Sugar Camp/mine 1/coal Refuse Disposal 1 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 Sugar Camp Energy, Llc (private). It impounds the Trib Middle Fork Big Muddy Riv near Benton.
The dam stands 86 feet tall and stretches 8,651 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 83 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,946 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 03/18/2025.
At 86 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Benton |
| River/Stream | Trib Middle Fork Big Muddy Riv |
| Coordinates | 38.02568, -88.76721 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,651 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,946 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,946 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | SUGAR CAMP ENERGY, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50644 |
| Federal ID | IL50644 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |