Stockton Wash Retarding
Stockton Wash Retarding is an earth dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Stockton Wash Retarding
The primary purpose of Stockton Wash Retarding 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 (local government). It impounds the Stockton Wash near Safford.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 4,013 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 558 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 153 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 12/06/2023.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 | Safford |
| River/Stream | Stockton Wash |
| Coordinates | 32.79139, -109.68833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,013 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,704 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 558 acres |
| Drainage Area | 153 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | GRAHAM COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00067 |
| Federal ID | AZ00067 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |