Gardner Lake Dam dam
Gardner Lake Dam
Located in Baxter, Arkansas, Gardner Lake Dam stands as a private recreational structure on the Little Pigeon Creek-TR. Completed in 1970, this earth dam boasts a height of 24 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the surrounding area, including fishing and boating activities.
Managed by the Little Rock District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Gardner Lake Dam has a significant hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition assessment. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential water resource management functions, supporting the local ecosystem and recreational activities in the Spring Lake Estates area. The structure's design and construction represent a vital piece of Arkansas's infrastructure, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
As an important component of the region's water resource infrastructure, Gardner Lake Dam serves as a valuable asset for both environmental conservation and recreational purposes. While its condition assessment is currently not rated, ongoing maintenance and monitoring efforts are crucial to ensuring the dam's long-term reliability and safety. With its picturesque location and significant storage capacity, Gardner Lake Dam remains a cherished destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the beauty and functionality of Arkansas's diverse landscape.
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 Gardner Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Near Norfork | 2,770 cfs | → |
| Bryant Creek Near Tecumseh | 320 cfs | → |
| North Fork River Near Tecumseh | 457 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Harriet | 901 cfs | → |
| White River At Calico Rock | 3,360 cfs | → |
| North Sylamore Creek Near Fifty Six | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardner Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Valley Airport Drive 380, Cotter
- Bull Shoals Dam Boulevard Bull Shoals
- Big Spring Parkway Cotter
- Shipps Ferry Road Baxter County
- Baxter County
- Norfork River Road 49, Norfork
Campgrounds
- Cranfield - Norfolk Lake
- Lakeview - Bull Shoals Lake
- Point Return City Park
- Panther Bay - Norfolk Lake
- Bull Shoals State Park
- Robinson Point - Norfolk Lake
Fishing spots
- Bull Shoals Tailwater
- Little North Fork White River
- Trimble Creek
- Bull Shoals Lake
- Gunner Creek
- Langston Lake
Paddle runs
Track Gardner Lake 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 Gardner Lake Dam
Where does the data for Gardner Lake 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 Significant 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 Gardner Lake Dam.