Garner Dam dam
Garner Dam
Garner Dam, located in Linn County, Iowa, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish pond management. Constructed in 2000 by the NRCS, this private-owned Earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and spans a length of 281 feet. With a storage capacity of 43 acre-feet and a surface area of 4.3 acres, Garner Dam regulates the flow of the TR-ABBE CREEK, contributing to the conservation and management of water resources in the region.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Garner Dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk level. Despite not being rated for its condition, the dam is regularly inspected, permitted, and enforced by state authorities, ensuring its structural integrity and safety for surrounding communities. With its uncontrolled spillway and soil foundation, Garner Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and maintaining water quality in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Garner Dam stands as a testament to effective water management and conservation efforts in Iowa. Its presence not only provides essential services like fire protection and stock maintenance but also contributes to the overall health and sustainability of the local ecosystem. With a focus on safety and compliance, Garner Dam exemplifies the importance of responsible dam ownership and operation in ensuring the long-term resilience of water infrastructure in the face of a changing climate.
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 Garner Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa | 967 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Cedar Rapids | 4,490 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville | 2,140 cfs | → |
| Rapid Creek Near Iowa City | 10 cfs | → |
| Hoover Crk At Hoover Nat.Hist.Site West Branch | 2 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Coralville | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Garner Dam.
Boat launches
- Kepler Drive Linn County
- Cedar Park Road Linn County
- White Oak Avenue Northeast 1273, Cedar Township
- Dearborn Road Jones County
- Lower Park Road Jones County
Campgrounds
- Palisades Kepler State Park
- Squaw Creek County Park
- Matsell Bridge Natural Area
- Wapsipinicon State Park Campground
- Wapsipinicon State Park
- Pack In Campsite #2
More reservoirs
Track Garner 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 Garner Dam
Where does the data for Garner 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 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 Garner Dam.