Whoopie Cat is an earth dam located in Hardin County, Illinois, built in 1977. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 450 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Whoopie Cat
The primary purpose of Whoopie Cat is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Usda Fs (federal). It impounds the Tr-big Green.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 316 acre-feet. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/07/2019.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Hardin |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr-big Green |
| Coordinates | 37.47643, -88.32950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 316 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 316 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 296 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Max Discharge | 400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Usda Fs |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/07/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00035 |
| Federal ID | IL00035 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |