West Cataract Creek is an earth dam located in Coconino County, Arizona, built in 1947. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 580 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About West Cataract Creek
The primary purpose of West Cataract Creek is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Williams (local government). It impounds the West Cataract Creek near Williams.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 860 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1947, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/09/2024.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arizona |
| County | Coconino |
| Nearest City | Williams |
| River/Stream | West Cataract Creek |
| Coordinates | 35.25222, -112.21472 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 860 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 860 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 415 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,920 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Williams |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00038 |
| Federal ID | AZ00038 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |