Gardiner Pond
Gardiner Pond is a rockfill dam located in Newport County, Rhode Island, built in 1885. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Gardiner Pond
The primary purpose of Gardiner Pond is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Newport, City Of (local government). It impounds the Maidford Brook near Middletown.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 7,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 102 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1885, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Rhode Island dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Rhode Island |
| County | Newport |
| Nearest City | Middletown |
| River/Stream | Maidford Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.48838, -71.25480 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 7,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1885 (141 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,230 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | NEWPORT, CITY OF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | RI01902 |
| Federal ID | RI01902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |