River Reservoir #3

About River Reservoir #3

The primary purpose of River Reservoir #3 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Pioneer Irrigation Company Inc. (private). It impounds the Little Colorado River near South Fork.

The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 1,212 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 164 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,195 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 34 square miles. Completed in 1896, the structure is over a century 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 09/06/2024.

At 58 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.

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