Cook Reservoir
Cook Reservoir is an earth dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1940. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cook Reservoir
The primary purpose of Cook 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 Eastern Arizona College (state). It impounds the Unknown near Safford.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 59 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1940, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/27/2023.
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 | Graham |
| Nearest City | Safford |
| River/Stream | Unknown |
| Coordinates | 32.77528, -109.72750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00245 |
| Federal ID | AZ00245 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |