Little Hell's Canyon
Little Hell's Canyon is a rockfill dam located in Yavapai County, Arizona, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Little Hell's Canyon
Little Hell's Canyon is a dam in Yavapai, Arizona. The dam is owned by Arizona Department Of Transportation (state). It impounds the Hell Canyon near Us 89.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,545 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 05/08/2024.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Arizona |
| County | Yavapai |
| Nearest City | Us 89 |
| River/Stream | Hell Canyon |
| Coordinates | 35.08139, -112.40556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,545 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,545 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 53 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00215 |
| Federal ID | AZ00215 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |