Roper Lake
Roper Lake is an earth dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Roper Lake
The primary purpose of Roper Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Arizona Game & Fish Department (state). It impounds the Tr -stockton Wash - Os near Safford.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 2,964 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a storage capacity of 313 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 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 12/05/2023.
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 | Safford |
| River/Stream | Tr -stockton Wash - Os |
| Coordinates | 32.75730, -109.70358 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,964 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 313 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 313 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00091 |
| Federal ID | AZ00091 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |