Murphy Reservoir
Murphy Reservoir is an earth dam located in Pima County, Arizona, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Murphy Reservoir
The primary purpose of Murphy Reservoir is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Tucson, Tucson Water (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Wash near Tucson.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 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 02/15/2024.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Pima |
| Nearest City | Tucson |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Wash |
| Coordinates | 32.28111, -110.83111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 47 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF TUCSON, TUCSON WATER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00217 |
| Federal ID | AZ00217 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |