Gardner Dam dam
Gardner Dam
Gardner Dam, located in Eddyville, Iowa, was completed in 1992 by the USDA NRCS and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. This earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans 275 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 18 acre-feet. Situated on TR- BLUFF CREEK, the dam is under the jurisdiction of the Iowa DNR and is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state agencies.
The dam's hazard potential is rated as low, with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. While the condition of Gardner Dam is currently not rated, it meets state permitting and inspection requirements. The spillway type is uncontrolled, and the dam has no outlet gates or associated structures. Despite its modest size, Gardner Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Gardner Dam for its contribution to local water storage and management, as well as its role in providing fire protection and supporting wildlife habitats. With its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam stands as a reliable infrastructure for the community. As a privately owned structure, Gardner Dam showcases the importance of collaboration between private owners and state agencies in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in Iowa.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Bussey | 489 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Tracy | 19,200 cfs | → |
| English Creek Near Knoxville | 239 cfs | → |
| Des Moines River Near Pella | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Chariton River Near Rathbun | 1,090 cfs | → |
| South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa | 4,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardner Dam.
Boat launches
- Avian Court Appanoose County
- Husky Place Appanoose County
- Hornet Place Appanoose County
- 200th Avenue Appanoose County
- County Road S70 Appanoose County
- Islandview Place Appanoose County
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.