New Waddell Dam
New Waddell Dam is a rockfill dam located in Maricopa County, Arizona, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About New Waddell Dam
The primary purpose of New Waddell 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Agua Fria near Phoenix.
The dam stands 440 feet tall and stretches 4,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9,957 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,063,163 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,437 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/19/2022.
At 440 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Maricopa |
| Nearest City | Phoenix |
| River/Stream | Agua Fria |
| Coordinates | 33.84640, -112.26630 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 440 ft |
| Dam Height | 438 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,063,163 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,063,163 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 811,784 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9,957 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,437 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 129,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ82929 |
| Federal ID | AZ82929 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |