East Park dam
East Park
East Park, also known as Shaw Butte Detention, is a flood risk reduction structure located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Built in 1974, this earth dam stands at a height of 26.3 feet and stretches 700 feet in length along the Cave Creek stream. With a storage capacity of 33.3 acre-feet, East Park plays a crucial role in managing stormwater and reducing the risk of flooding in the surrounding area.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, East Park is state-regulated with regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's spillway, with a width of 50 feet, helps control water flow during periods of heavy rainfall, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1650 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is assessed as being in satisfactory condition, with a moderate risk level of 3.
As a key component of flood control measures in Phoenix, East Park serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its effective design and maintenance exemplify the importance of proactive management in safeguarding communities from the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring sustainable water management practices in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around East Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skunk Creek Near Phoenix | · | → |
| Salt River At Priest Drive Near Phoenix | · | → |
| Salt River At 51st Avenue | 0 cfs | → |
| Indian Bend Wash At Curry Road | · | → |
| Cave Creek Blw Cottonwood Cr Near Cave Creek | · | → |
| Gila River At Estrella Parkway | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Park.
Boat launches
- East Mccormick Parkway 7505, Scottsdale
- East Leeward Lane 1198, Tempe
- South Las Palmas Circle 1839, Mesa
- North Ramp Road Peoria
- Lake Pleasant 10 Lane Boat Ramp
- East Mission Bay Drive Gilbert
Campgrounds
- Cave Creek Rec Area
- Mcdowell Mountain
- Estrella Mountain Regional Park
- Rooadrunner Campground
- Desert Tortoise Campground
- Legacy Adventures Ministry, Inc
Fishing spots
Track East Park in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About East Park
Where does the data for East Park come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of East Park.