Hamilton County Coal/hamilton County/coal Refuse 2 Dam
Hamilton County Coal/hamilton County/coal Refuse 2 Dam is an earth dam located in Hamilton County, Illinois, built in 2016. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Hamilton County Coal/hamilton County/coal Refuse 2 Dam
Hamilton County Coal/hamilton County/coal Refuse 2 Dam is a dam in Hamilton, Illinois. The dam is owned by Hamilton County Coal Llc (private). It impounds the Trib Big Cr.
The dam stands 76 feet tall and stretches 10,800 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 4,454 acre-feet. Completed in 2016, 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 03/18/2025.
At 76 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 | Hamilton |
| River/Stream | Trib Big Cr |
| Coordinates | 38.16831, -88.60622 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 2016 (10 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,454 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,454 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | HAMILTON COUNTY COAL LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 03/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50657 |
| Federal ID | IL50657 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |