Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam dam
Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam
Located in Grady, Georgia, the Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam is a private earth dam designed by USDA NRCS for irrigation purposes. Standing at a height of 26 feet with a structural height of 25 feet, this dam boasts a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 80 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, this dam has not been rated for its condition but is inspected every 5 years to ensure its safety.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a surface area of 8 acres and a length of 640 feet. While it is not regulated by the state and does not require permitting, it falls under state jurisdiction and is subject to inspections. Despite its uncontrolled spillway, the Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam presents a low hazard potential and is surrounded by a moderate level of risk, making it a crucial infrastructure for irrigation purposes in the region.
With its strategic location in Cairo, Georgia, this dam serves as a vital resource for water management in the area, providing necessary irrigation for agriculture. Managed by a private entity, the dam's design and construction were overseen by USDA NRCS, ensuring its efficiency and effectiveness in water resource management. As climate change continues to impact water availability, structures like the Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam play a crucial role in sustainable water management and climate resiliency efforts in the region.
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 Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ochlockonee River Near Thomasville | 283 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Bainbridge | 3,080 cfs | → |
| Flint River At Riverview Plantation Nr Hopeful | 3,010 cfs | → |
| Ochlockonee River Nr Concord | 760 cfs | → |
| Little Attapulgus Creek At Attapulgus | 5 cfs | → |
| Ichawaynochaway Creek Below Newton | 330 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Cedar Springs Road Grady County
- Gainous Road Boat Ramp
- State Park Road Grady County
- Highway 93, Cairo
- Hadley Ferry Road 154, Cairo
- Big Slough Landing Bainbridge
Fishing spots
Track Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam 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 Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam
Where does the data for Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam 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 Paul Ponder Irrigation Pond Dam.