Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam

BEAR CREEK· Freestone, Texas· Built 1993· Earth· 25 ft tall
Low Hazard Tailings Private

Key Takeaway

Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam is classified as low hazard in Texas. It was completed in 1993 and is 33 years old. Its primary use is tailings.

Physical Details

Dam Height 25 ft (taller than 50.9% in TX)
Dam Length1,390 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage1.6K acre-ft
Normal Storage130 acre-ft
Surface Area11 acres
Drainage Area5 sq mi
Year Completed1993 (33 years old)
NID IDTX07045

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: TCEQ

Ownership

LUMINANT BIG BROWN MINING COMPANY LLC;LUMINANT MINING COMPANY LLC

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam?

Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam?

Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam is owned by LUMINANT BIG BROWN MINING COMPANY LLC;LUMINANT MINING COMPANY LLC (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam built?

Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam was completed in 1993, making it 33 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam?

Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam serves the following purposes: Tailings. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam?

Big Brown Lignite Mining Area Dam has a dam height of 25 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.