Bird Branch Holding Pond dam
Bird Branch Holding Pond
Bird Branch Holding Pond, located in Nichols, Florida, is a privately owned water resource designed for tailings storage. This earth dam structure, completed in 1971, stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 880 acre-feet. With a surface area of 44 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 550 cubic feet per second, this pond plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the Jacksonville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bird Branch Holding Pond boasts a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. Despite its age, the dam remains structurally sound, with regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement ensuring its safety and functionality. Water and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the role this pond plays in maintaining ecological balance and supporting water management efforts in Polk County, Florida.
With its strategic location along the Bird Branch stream, this holding pond serves as a vital component of the local water infrastructure. As it continues to fulfill its primary purpose of tailings storage, the Bird Branch Holding Pond stands as a testament to effective water resource management and the importance of maintaining and regulating essential water structures in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Bird Branch Holding Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Prong Alafia River Near Nichols Fl | 30 cfs | → |
| North Prong Alafia River At Keysville Fl | 30 cfs | → |
| South Prong Alafia River Near Lithia Fl | 12 cfs | → |
| Banana-Hancock Canal Nr Highland City | · | → |
| South Prong Alafia River Near Ft Lonesome Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Bartow Fl | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bird Branch Holding Pond.
Boat launches
- Alderman's Ford Park Trail Hillsborough County
- Highlands By The Lake Way 3184, Lakeland
- Alligator Alley, Plant City
- Sikes Boulevard Lakeland
- Lake Bonny Drive East 101-199, Lakeland
- East Memorial Boulevard 1800, Lakeland
Campgrounds
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Edward Medard
- Alafia River State Park
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
Track Bird Branch Holding Pond 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 Bird Branch Holding Pond
Where does the data for Bird Branch Holding Pond 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 Low 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 Bird Branch Holding Pond.