Ortega Lake Retention
Ortega Lake Retention is an earth dam located in Apache County, Arizona, built in 1987. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Ortega Lake Retention
The primary purpose of Ortega Lake Retention 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 Silver Creek Flood Protection District (local government). It impounds the Brown Creek near White Mountain Lake Estates.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 2,260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 94 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 530 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 34 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 04/23/2020.
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Location
| State | Arizona |
| County | Apache |
| Nearest City | White Mountain Lake Estates |
| River/Stream | Brown Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.30111, -109.84806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 530 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 530 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 530 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 94 acres |
| Drainage Area | 34 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | SILVER CREEK FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/23/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00190 |
| Federal ID | AZ00190 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |