Gardner Park dam
Gardner Park
Gardner Park, located in Yampa, Colorado, is a significant irrigation infrastructure managed by a public utility. The dam, constructed in 1908, stands at a height of 33 feet and has a hydraulic height of 20 feet, serving the primary purpose of irrigation. With a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 603 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region. The Bear River-TR flows nearby, ensuring a reliable water source for agricultural needs in the area.
Maintained by the Colorado Division of Water Resources, Gardner Park Dam poses a significant hazard potential and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam, primarily made of earth and stone materials, spans a length of 320 feet and covers a surface area of 78 acres. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam's condition was last assessed as satisfactory in September 2019. Despite its age, Gardner Park Dam continues to support the agricultural community by providing vital water resources for irrigation purposes.
As an essential component of the water infrastructure in Routt County, Gardner Park Dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts. With its uncontrolled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 150 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a key resource for maintaining water levels and ensuring efficient irrigation practices. The dam's association with the Bear River-TR and its location in a regulated state jurisdiction highlight its importance in sustaining water resources and supporting agricultural activities in the region.
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 Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yampa River Above Stagecoach Reservoir | 8 cfs | → |
| Yampa River Below Stagecoach Reservoir | 16 cfs | → |
| Walton Creek Near Steamboat Springs | 347 cfs | → |
| Eagle River Below Gypsum | 526 cfs | → |
| Colorado River Near Dotsero | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Piney River Near State Bridge | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardner Park.
Boat launches
- Catamount Bridge Boat Ramp
- Pinball Access Boat Ramp
- Uncompahgre Road Routt County
- Two Bridges Boat Ramp
- Cottonwood Island Boat Ramp
- State Bridge Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Bear River Developed Camp Sites
- Bear Lake Campground
- Horseshoe Campground
- Crosho Lake Recreation Area
- Sheriffs Reservoir
- Sheriff Reservoir Campground
Fishing spots
- Yamcolo Reservoir
- Bear Lake Fishing Pier
- Crosho Lake
- Trappers Lake
- Lake Of The Woods
- Stagecoach Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Burns To Dotsero
- South Section Line Sec 34, T1n, R83w To Confluence With Decker Creek
- State Bridge To Two Bridges
- Colorado River Segment 6
- State Bridge To Burns
- Headwaters At Deep Lake Outlet To 1/4 Mile Downstream
More reservoirs
Track Gardner Park 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 Park
Where does the data for Gardner Park 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 Park.