Gardner Dam dam
Gardner Dam
Gardner Dam, located in Copock, Iowa, is a privately owned structure designed by the NRCS and completed in 2003. This earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and spans 250 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 46 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Gardner Dam is for fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond, serving the local community with its 3.4-acre surface area and 0.14 square miles of drainage area along the TR- Skunk River.
Managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Gardner Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, the dam poses minimal danger to surrounding areas. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam remains structurally sound and operational for its intended purposes, contributing to water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As a vital component of the local water infrastructure, Gardner Dam plays a significant role in maintaining water supply reliability and supporting ecosystem health in Washington County, Iowa. With its strategic location and design features, this dam serves as a valuable asset for fire protection, agricultural needs, and recreational activities, showcasing the intersection of water resource management and climate adaptation in the heart of the Midwest.
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 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant | 7 cfs | → |
| Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills | 55 cfs | → |
| English River At Kalona | 228 cfs | → |
| Iowa River Near Lone Tree | 3,230 cfs | → |
| North Skunk River Near Sigourney | 319 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Conesville | 6,160 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardner Dam.
Boat launches
- Dogwood Avenue Washington County
- W15 / 330th Avenue Keokuk County
- Vine Avenue Washington County
- County Road V5g Keokuk County
- Riverside Road Riverside
- Sand Road Southeast Johnson County
Campgrounds
- Crooked Creek Christian Camp
- Brinton Timber
- Lake Darling State Park
- Lake Darling State Park Campground
- Mac Coon Access
- Marr Park
More reservoirs
Track Gardner 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 Dam
Where does the data for Gardner 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 Gardner Dam.