Freeman Wash Retarding
Freeman Wash Retarding is an earth dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Freeman Wash Retarding
The primary purpose of Freeman Wash Retarding is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Arizona State Land Department;graham County (local government). It impounds the Freeman Wash near Thatcher.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 4,530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,060 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/06/2023.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 | Graham |
| Nearest City | Thatcher |
| River/Stream | Freeman Wash |
| Coordinates | 32.81343, -109.73541 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,530 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,060 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,060 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | ARIZONA STATE LAND DEPARTMENT;GRAHAM COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00072 |
| Federal ID | AZ00072 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |