Sands Draw Basin Detention Dam is a gravity dam located in Graham County, Arizona, built in 1972. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 4,850 ft long, taller than 55% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sands Draw Basin Detention Dam
The primary purpose of Sands Draw Basin Detention Dam 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 Doi BLM (federal). It impounds the San Simon River near Solomon, Az.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 4,850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 141 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,317 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 43 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 07/09/2015. That was over 11 years ago.
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Location
| State | Arizona |
| County | Graham |
| Nearest City | Solomon, Az |
| River/Stream | San Simon River |
| Coordinates | 32.49285, -109.38494 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,317 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,317 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 913 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 141 acres |
| Drainage Area | 43 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,653 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Doi BLM |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ20027 |
| Federal ID | AZ20027 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |