Drift Fence
Drift Fence is an earth dam located in Apache County, Arizona, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Drift Fence
The primary purpose of Drift Fence is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Pacheta Creek.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 119 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 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 10/20/2020.
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 | Apache |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Pacheta Creek |
| Coordinates | 33.82147, -109.53850 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 119 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 119 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 43 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,681 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/20/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ10421 |
| Federal ID | AZ10421 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |