Pony Creek Lake dam
Pony Creek Lake
Pony Creek Lake, located in Brown County, Kansas, is a key water resource managed by the local government for water supply and flood risk reduction purposes. Built in 1993, this earth dam structure stands at a height of 66.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 6,023 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 171 acres and serves a drainage area of 6.51 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 13,692 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Pony Creek Lake is regulated and inspected for safety and compliance with state standards. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed as satisfactory and meets emergency action plan guidelines. With a spillway width of 300 feet and no outlet gates, the structure is designed to handle potential flood events effectively. The dam's location along Pony Creek and its strategic design contribute to its importance in maintaining water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
As a significant water supply source for the area, Pony Creek Lake plays a vital role in sustaining local communities and ecosystems. Its satisfactory condition, regular inspections, and emergency preparedness highlight its importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. With a focus on safety and efficient water management, Pony Creek Lake stands as a key infrastructure contributing to sustainable water resource utilization and flood risk reduction 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 Pony Creek Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Nemaha River At Falls City | 2,530 cfs | → |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Turkey C Nr Seneca | 242 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Rulo | 43,900 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Delaware R Nr Muscotah | 321 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pony Creek Lake.
Track Pony Creek Lake 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 Lake
Where does the data for Pony Creek Lake 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 Lake.