Frye Creek Retarding
Frye Creek Retarding is an earth dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Frye Creek Retarding
The primary purpose of Frye Creek 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 Town Of Thatcher (local government). It impounds the Frye Creek near Thatcher.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 6,730 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 205 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 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 10/16/2024.
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 | Thatcher |
| River/Stream | Frye Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.82800, -109.75917 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,730 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,930 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 205 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TOWN OF THATCHER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00068 |
| Federal ID | AZ00068 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |