Big Lake is an earth dam located in Apache County, Arizona, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 485 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Big Lake
The primary purpose of Big Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Arizona Game & Fish Department (state). It impounds the Black River near Deer Creek Lodge.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 485 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 518 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 07/13/2023.
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Location
| State | Arizona |
| County | Apache |
| Nearest City | Deer Creek Lodge |
| River/Stream | Black River |
| Coordinates | 33.88667, -109.41722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 485 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 518 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Arizona Game & Fish Department |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00061 |
| Federal ID | AZ00061 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |