Pony Creek - Lower dam
Pony Creek - Lower
Pony Creek - Lower, also known as Merrit Reservoir, is a vital water resource located in Coos Bay, Oregon. Owned by a public utility, this dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, with a maximum storage capacity of 400 acre-feet and a surface area of 27.8 acres. Completed in 1988, the earth dam stands at 32 feet in height and spans 300 feet in length, providing essential water resources to the surrounding community.
Despite its importance, Pony Creek - Lower poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. With a moderate risk rating of 3, this dam is in need of urgent attention to ensure its long-term safety and functionality. The inspection frequency is set at 1 year, with the last assessment conducted in September 2021. The dam features a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate and an uncontrolled spillway type, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1150 cubic feet per second.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and address the condition of Pony Creek - Lower to mitigate potential risks and ensure the continued availability of water supply in the region. With state regulation and oversight from the Oregon Water Resources Department, efforts should be made to improve the dam's condition and emergency preparedness measures to safeguard both the dam infrastructure and downstream communities from potential 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 - Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Wolf Creek Near Tyee | 3 cfs | → |
| South Fork Coquille River At Powers | 102 cfs | → |
| Umpqua River Near Elkton | 1,710 cfs | → |
| North Umpqua River At Winchester | 1,250 cfs | → |
| South Umpqua River Near Brockway | 387 cfs | → |
| Siuslaw River Near Mapleton | 431 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pony Creek - Lower.
Boat launches
- John Topits Upper Lake
- City Dock
- Eastside Boat Ramp
- Holland Avenue, Coos Bay
- California Street 400-444, North Bend
- North Spit
Campgrounds
- Bluebill Campground
- Bastendorff Campground
- #69 & 70
- Rooke - Higgins County Park
- Blue Ridge Trails Staging Area
- Nesika County Park
Paddle runs
- South Fork Coos River
- Eastern Siuslaw Nf Boundary To East Section Line Of Ne1/4se1/4 Of Sec 16, T21s, R10w
- East Section Line Of Ne1/4se1/4 Of Sec 16, T21s, R10w To Confluence With Smith River
- Sixes River
- South Fork Coquille River
- Coquille River Rna Boundary (Western) To Siskiyou Nf Boundary (North Section Line Sec 6, T32s, R11w
Track Pony Creek - Lower 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 - Lower
Where does the data for Pony Creek - Lower 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 - Lower.