Pony Creek Watershed Site 30 dam
Pony Creek Watershed Site 30
Pony Creek Watershed Site 30, located in Mills County, Iowa, is a flood risk reduction structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1964. This earth dam stands at 49 feet tall and spans 639 feet, providing a storage capacity of 528 acre-feet and serving a drainage area of 2.5 square miles along the TR-Pony Creek. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with additional benefits including fire protection, stock, or small fish pond support.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Pony Creek Watershed Site 30 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. The dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in July 2016, with a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk level. Despite its uncontrolled spillway type and limited discharge capacity, the structure's risk management measures and emergency action plan status are currently unspecified.
With a location in Pacific Junction and oversight by local government, Pony Creek Watershed Site 30 is a critical infrastructure contributing to water resource management in the area. Enthusiasts interested in water conservation, climate resilience, and flood control efforts can appreciate the significance of this dam in protecting the community and surrounding environment from potential water-related hazards.
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 30 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Omaha | 32,700 cfs | → |
| West Nishnabotna River At Randolph | 895 cfs | → |
| Weeping Water Creek At Union | 45 cfs | → |
| Platte R At Louisville Ne | 5,490 cfs | → |
| Big Papillion Cr | 64 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Nebraska City | 36,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pony Creek Watershed Site 30.
Boat launches
- Us 34;Us 275 Mills County
- Mills County
- I 29;Us 275 Mills County
- Plattsmouth Boat Ramp
- Haworth River Park
- Catfish Rd Council Bluffs
Track Pony Creek Watershed Site 30 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 30
Where does the data for Pony Creek Watershed Site 30 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 Pony Creek Watershed Site 30.