Willow Creek
Willow Creek is an arch dam located in Yavapai County, Arizona, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Willow Creek
The primary purpose of Willow Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Prescott (local government). It impounds the Willow Creek near Granite Dells.
The dam stands 99 feet tall and stretches 297 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 460 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/27/2024.
At 99 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 Arizona 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 | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai |
| Nearest City | Granite Dells |
| River/Stream | Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.60194, -112.43139 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 297 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,980 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 460 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CITY OF PRESCOTT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00019 |
| Federal ID | AZ00019 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |