Gardella dam
Gardella
Gardella, located in Tuolumne, California, is a state-regulated Earth-type dam completed in 2009 with a primary purpose of water supply for irrigation and other uses. With a height of 69 feet and a storage capacity of 370 acre-feet, Gardella plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam is situated on a tributary to Woods Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for safety and regulatory oversight.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Gardella maintains a satisfactory condition as assessed in September 2017, ensuring its reliability in water storage and management. The dam's last inspection in January 2021 confirmed its structural integrity and operational efficiency, highlighting its importance in supporting water supply infrastructure in the area. With its strategic location and capacity to store water, Gardella contributes significantly to water resource management and climate resilience efforts in California.
As a vital component in the water supply system of the region, Gardella serves as a critical infrastructure for water storage and distribution. With its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition, the dam stands as a reliable asset for mitigating water scarcity and supporting agricultural and domestic water needs. As climate change continues to impact water resources, Gardella's role in ensuring water security and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions becomes increasingly important for sustainable water management in California.
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 Gardella -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black C Nr Copperopolis Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Big C Ab Whites Gulch Nr Groveland Ca | 1 cfs | → |
| Modesto Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 834 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Lagrange Dam Nr Lagrange Ca | 186 cfs | → |
| Turlock Cn Nr La Grange Ca | 912 cfs | → |
| Tuolumne R Bl Early Intake Nr Mather Ca | 1,990 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardella.
Boat launches
- Glory Hole Road 6503, Angels Camp
- Merals Pool Put-In
- Forest Route 1n10 Tuolumne County
- Forest Route 1n04, Groveland
Campgrounds
- Moccasin Point - Don Pedro Rec Area
- C28
- C27
- C25
- Manzanita - Tuttletown Area - New Melones Lake
- Acorn - Tuttletown Area - New Melones Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Clavey River From Cottonwood Road To Confluence With Tuolumne
- Confluence With North Fork And Middle Fork Stanislaus To Clark Flat
- Sandbar To Confluence With North Fork Stanislaus River
- Confluence With Middle Fork Tuolumne River To Confluence With Tuolumne River
- Clavey River From 3n01 To Cottonwood Road
- Below Mckay's Reservoir To Confluence With Middle Fork Stanislaus River
More reservoirs
Track Gardella 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 Gardella
Where does the data for Gardella 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 Low 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 Gardella.