Granite Creek
Granite Creek is an arch dam located in Yavapai County, Arizona, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Granite Creek
The primary purpose of Granite 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 Granite Creek near Granite Dells.
The dam stands 98 feet tall and stretches 187 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 202 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 45 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 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 98 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 | Granite Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.59583, -112.41528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Arch |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Height | 81 ft |
| Dam Length | 187 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,598 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 202 acres |
| Drainage Area | 45 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 616 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 | AZ00020 |
| Federal ID | AZ00020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |