Santa Fe
Santa Fe is a masonry dam located in Coconino County, Arizona, built in 1892. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Santa Fe
The primary purpose of Santa Fe 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 City Of Williams (local government). It impounds the Cataract Creek near Williams.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 454 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1892, 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 10/16/2024.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Coconino |
| Nearest City | Williams |
| River/Stream | Cataract Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.24306, -112.18639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 454 ft |
| Year Completed | 1892 (134 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF WILLIAMS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00031 |
| Federal ID | AZ00031 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |