Gardiner Dam
Gardiner
Gardiner, a private-owned water resource located in Douglas County, Oregon, serves as a crucial Fish and Wildlife Pond along an unnamed stream or tributary of the Umpqua River. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 25 feet, providing storage capacity for 90 acre-feet of water with a surface area of 8 acres. Despite its modest size, Gardiner poses a significant hazard potential and undergoes inspections every 3 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Managed by the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD), Gardiner's primary purpose is to support the local ecosystem by providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Situated in S26, T21.00S, R12.00W of WM, this dam with slide gates for outlet control serves as an essential water management infrastructure in the region. The dam's significance is underscored by its state-regulated status, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement conducted by OWRD to maintain compliance and safety standards.
With Congressman Peter A. DeFazio representing the area, Gardiner reflects the intricate interplay between water resource management, environmental conservation, and regulatory oversight. As climate change impacts continue to shape water dynamics in the region, structures like Gardiner underscore the importance of sustainable water resource management practices to ensure the resilience of ecosystems and communities in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Gardiner -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Siuslaw River Near Mapleton | 139 cfs | → |
| Umpqua River Near Elkton | 817 cfs | → |
| Little Wolf Creek Near Tyee | 0 cfs | → |
| Long Tom River Near Noti | 16 cfs | → |
| East Fork Lobster Creek Near Alsea | 1 cfs | → |
| North Umpqua River At Winchester | 744 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gardiner.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Gardiner
Where does the data for Gardiner 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 below 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.
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.