Pomona Dam dam
Pomona Dam
Pomona Dam, also known as Pomona Lake, is a Federal-owned structure located in Ottawa, Kansas. Completed in 1963, this rockfill dam stands at a hydraulic height of 111 feet and has a structural height of 110 feet. With a storage capacity of 254,600 acre-feet and a surface area of 4,000 acres, Pomona Dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, fish and wildlife pond management, and recreational activities.
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Pomona Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region by monitoring its condition, conducting regular inspections, and engaging with local emergency managers and the public to raise awareness and readiness for dam-related emergencies. The dam's spillway, with a width of 200 feet, helps regulate water levels and discharge rates during heavy rainfall events. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk management measures include the development and regular updating of an emergency action plan, as well as ongoing maintenance and repairs to ensure its structural integrity.
As a key component in the local water resource infrastructure, Pomona Dam serves as a vital tool in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks in the area. Its strategic location on Hundred Ten Mile Creek ensures that it plays a crucial role in protecting downstream communities from potential flooding events. With its multiple purposes and robust risk management measures, Pomona Dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective dam operations in safeguarding both the environment and public safety in the face of changing climate patterns and extreme weather events.
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 Pomona Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hundred And Ten Mile C Nr Quenemo | 11 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R Nr Pomona | 695 cfs | → |
| Salt C At Lyndon | 81 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R At Melvern | 27 cfs | → |
| Dragoon C Nr Burlingame | 52 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R Nr Ottawa | 1,080 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pomona Dam.
Boat launches
- Osage County
- North 978 Road Douglas County
- East 600 Road Clinton
- Lake Road 1029 Douglas County
- N 1415 Road Lawrence
Campgrounds
- Outlet Park - Pomona Reservoir
- Michigan Valley - Pomona Reservoir
- Pomona State Park
- Outlet Park - Melvern
- Eisenhower State Park
- Coeur Dalene - Melvern Lake
More reservoirs
Track Pomona 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 Pomona Dam
Where does the data for Pomona 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 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 Pomona Dam.