Gardinier Area E dam
Gardinier Area E
Gardinier Area E is a private earth dam located in Bowling Green, Florida, along the Whidden Creek. Built in 1976, this dam stands at a height of 48 feet and has a structural height of 43 feet, with a length of 20,330 feet. Its primary purpose is for tailings, with a storage capacity of 22,666 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 18,500 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 472 acres and is regulated by the state of Florida, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement all in place.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment of Gardinier Area E is currently listed as "Not Rated." The dam has not been rated for its emergency action plan, and details on risk assessment, management measures, and inundation maps are not available. With a lack of recent inspection data and emergency preparedness information, there may be concerns about the safety and maintenance of this crucial water resource infrastructure for surrounding communities and the environment. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Gardinier Area E an intriguing case study for further investigation and analysis.
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 Gardinier Area E -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whidden Creek Near Fort Meade Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Fort Meade Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Bowling Green Fl | 6 cfs | → |
| Payne Creek Near Bowling Green Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Peace River Near Homeland Fl | 1 cfs | → |
| Barber Branch Near Homeland Fl | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardinier Area E.
Boat launches
- Doc Lindsey Road 2215-2837, Fort Meade
- Griffin Road 676, Wauchula
- Keen Road 506, Frostproof
- Highlands By The Lake Way 3184, Lakeland
- East Eagle Avenue 942, Eagle Lake
- West Eagle Avenue, Eagle Lake
Campgrounds
- Alafia River State Park
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Saddle Creek County Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- County Road 780 Bridge To State Road 72 Bridge
- Begins Downstream Of The State Road 72 Bridge To The Southern Boundary Of Myakka River State Park
- The Southern Boundary Of The Myakka River State Park To Ends Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins
- Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins To The Vicinity Of Snook Haven Fish Camp At Approximately River Mile 18
- Approximately River Mile 18 To A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing
- A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing To The Sarasota/Charlotte County Line
Track Gardinier Area E 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 Gardinier Area E
Where does the data for Gardinier Area E 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 Gardinier Area E.