Pony Creek Watershed Site 21 dam
Pony Creek Watershed Site 21
Pony Creek Watershed Site 21, located in Mills County, Iowa, is a local government-owned earth dam constructed in 1971 by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along Pony Creek. The dam stands at a height of 75 feet and has a storage capacity of 3,660 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 13.84 square miles. With a surface area of 83.2 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed by the Iowa DNR, Pony Creek Watershed Site 21 is classified as a high hazard potential dam with a satisfactory condition assessment as of August 2019. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years and is inspected biennially to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam's spillway, with a width of 4 feet, is uncontrolled, posing potential risks during high discharge events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pony Creek Watershed Site 21 serves as a vital infrastructure for flood risk reduction and water management in the region. As part of the larger Pony Creek watershed, this dam contributes to the overall resilience of the area against flooding events and provides essential protection to downstream communities. Its role in safeguarding the local ecosystem and infrastructure underscores the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its effectiveness in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Pony Creek Watershed Site 21 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Omaha | 29,000 cfs | → |
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 707 cfs | → |
| Platte R At Louisville Ne | 4,630 cfs | → |
| Weeping Water Creek At Union | 17 cfs | → |
| Big Papillion Cr | 38 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Nebraska City | 33,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pony Creek Watershed Site 21.
Boat launches
- Mills County
- Us 34;Us 275 Mills County
- I 29;Us 275 Mills County
- Plattsmouth Boat Ramp
- Haworth River Park
- Catfish Rd Council Bluffs
Track Pony Creek Watershed Site 21 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 Pony Creek Watershed Site 21
Where does the data for Pony Creek Watershed Site 21 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 High 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 Pony Creek Watershed Site 21.