Central Detention is an earth dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 1,650 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 Central Detention
The primary purpose of Central Detention is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Graham County;ross Virginia Claridge in Trust (private). It impounds the Central Wash near Central.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 1,650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 62 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,190 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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 10/23/2024.
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 | Central |
| River/Stream | Central Wash |
| Coordinates | 32.85194, -109.80111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,190 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,190 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 539 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 62 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Graham County;ross Virginia Claridge in Trust |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00065 |
| Federal ID | AZ00065 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |