Pony Creek - Upper
Pony Creek - Upper is an earth dam located in Coos County, Oregon, built in 2001. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Pony Creek - Upper
The primary purpose of Pony Creek - Upper is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Coos Bay - North Bend Water Board (local government). It impounds the Pony Creek near North Bend.
The dam stands 77 feet tall and stretches 380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 273 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 2001, the structure is relatively new.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/06/2020.
At 77 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Oregon dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Oregon |
| County | Coos |
| Nearest City | North Bend |
| River/Stream | Pony Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.36842, -124.25761 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 77 ft |
| Dam Height | 77 ft |
| Dam Length | 380 ft |
| Year Completed | 2001 (25 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,245 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,245 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 273 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | COOS BAY - NORTH BEND WATER BOARD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OR00200 |
| Federal ID | OR00200 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |