Pony Creek - Upper dam
Pony Creek - Upper
Pony Creek - Upper is a vital water supply resource located in Coos, Oregon, owned by the local government and regulated by the Oregon Water Resources Department. This earth dam, completed in 2001, stands at a height of 77 feet and serves the primary purpose of water supply. With a maximum storage capacity of 1680 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 6245 acre-feet, Pony Creek - Upper plays a crucial role in meeting the water needs of the surrounding area.
The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed during the last inspection in November 2020. The structure features a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate and spans a length of 380 feet, with a drainage area of 2.88 square miles. Despite its critical function, the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, and there is no designated emergency action plan in place.
Given its importance for water supply and potential hazards, ongoing monitoring and maintenance of Pony Creek - Upper are essential to ensure continued safety and functionality. The dam's location on Pony Creek and its impact on the surrounding environment highlight the significance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 - Upper -- 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 | → |
| West Fork Cow Creek Near Glendale | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pony Creek - Upper.
Boat launches
- John Topits Upper Lake
- Holland Avenue, Coos Bay
- City Dock
- Eastside Boat Ramp
- California Street 400-444, North Bend
- North Spit
Campgrounds
- Bastendorff Campground
- #69 & 70
- Bluebill Campground
- Rooke - Higgins County Park
- Blue Ridge Trails Staging Area
- Sturdivant City 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 - Upper 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 - Upper
Where does the data for Pony Creek - Upper 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 - Upper.