Palo Verde Evaporation Pond #1
Palo Verde Evaporation Pond #1 is an earth dam located in Maricopa County, Arizona, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Palo Verde Evaporation Pond #1
Palo Verde Evaporation Pond #1 is a dam in Maricopa, Arizona. The dam is owned by Arizona Public Service Company, Phoenix Office (public utility). It impounds the Offstream near Mesquite Generating Station.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 13,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 264 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,590 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 03/12/2024.
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 | Maricopa |
| Nearest City | Mesquite Generating Station |
| River/Stream | Offstream |
| Coordinates | 33.36361, -112.86889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 13,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,590 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,590 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,220 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 264 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, PHOENIX OFFICE |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00201 |
| Federal ID | AZ00201 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |