Lower Chase Creek

About Lower Chase Creek

Lower Chase Creek is a dam in Greenlee, Arizona. The dam is owned by Freeport-mcmoran Copper & Gold Morenci Operations (private). It impounds the Chase Creek near Clifton.

The dam stands 94 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 390 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 11/15/2024.

At 94 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.

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