Payne Creek Cl-5 dam
Payne Creek Cl-5
Payne Creek Cl-5 is a privately owned earth dam located in Bowling Green, Florida, along the Little Payne Creek. With a height of 40 feet and a storage capacity of 12,500 acre-feet, this dam serves the primary purpose of tailings management. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been formally assessed, and its emergency action plan status is unknown.
The dam, constructed by the Jacksonville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has not been modified since its completion and lacks essential features such as spillways or outlet gates. The surrounding area covers 330 acres, making it a crucial water resource in Polk County. While the dam is regulated and inspected by state authorities, its compliance with safety guidelines and emergency preparedness measures remains uncertain, raising concerns about its resilience in the face of climate change impacts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Payne Creek Cl-5 stands as a focal point for potential environmental risks and management challenges. Its location in a high-hazard area, coupled with the lack of recent assessments and emergency planning, underscores the importance of monitoring and strengthening the dam's infrastructure to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and protect vital water resources in the region. Addressing these concerns will be essential in enhancing the resilience of water infrastructure in Florida and mitigating the potential impacts of climate change on water resources.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Payne Creek Cl-5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whidden Creek Near Fort Meade Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Payne Creek Near Bowling Green Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Bowling Green Fl | 6 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Fort Meade Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| South Prong Alafia River Near Ft Lonesome Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Little Charlie Creek Near Mouth Near Wauchula Fl | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Payne Creek Cl-5.
Boat launches
- Griffin Road 676, Wauchula
- Doc Lindsey Road 2215-2837, Fort Meade
- Alderman's Ford Park Trail Hillsborough County
- Highlands By The Lake Way 3184, Lakeland
- Keen Road 506, Frostproof
- Alligator Alley, Plant City
Campgrounds
- Alafia River State Park
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Edward Medard
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- County Road 780 Bridge To State Road 72 Bridge
- Begins Downstream Of The State Road 72 Bridge To The Southern Boundary Of Myakka River State Park
- The Southern Boundary Of The Myakka River State Park To Ends Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins
- Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins To The Vicinity Of Snook Haven Fish Camp At Approximately River Mile 18
- Approximately River Mile 18 To A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing
- A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing To The Sarasota/Charlotte County Line
Track Payne Creek Cl-5 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Payne Creek Cl-5
Where does the data for Payne Creek Cl-5 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Payne Creek Cl-5.