Big Branch Coal Refuse Facility
Big Branch Coal Refuse Facility is an earth dam located in Clay County, West Virginia, built in 1997. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Big Branch Coal Refuse Facility
Big Branch Coal Refuse Facility is a dam in Clay, West Virginia. The dam is owned by Fola Coal Company (private). It impounds the Big Branch Of Lilly Fork near Dundon.
The dam stands 260 feet tall and stretches 1,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 71 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,828 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 years old.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
At 260 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 West Virginia 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 | West Virginia |
| County | Clay |
| Nearest City | Dundon |
| River/Stream | Big Branch Of Lilly Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.38810, -81.03472 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 260 ft |
| Dam Height | 260 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1997 (29 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,828 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,828 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,864 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 57 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | FOLA COAL COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WV01506 |
| Federal ID | WV01506 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |