Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1 dam
Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1
Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1, located in Maricopa, Arizona, was completed in 1960 by the US Army Corps of Engineers to primarily reduce flood risks along the Gila River. With a height of 181 feet and a length of 4780 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 4,831,500 acre-feet. Despite being classified as a high hazard potential structure, a recent risk assessment conducted in 2021 identified it as a moderate risk due to potential overtopping issues leading to erosion of the stone facing along the downstream face of the dam.
A failure of the structure could result in catastrophic downstream damages to surrounding communities in Arizona and California, as well as impact populations in Mexico, potentially affecting over 728,000 people and causing over $7 billion in property damages. To mitigate these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers has implemented various risk management measures, including close collaboration with state and local emergency managers, conducting emergency exercises, monitoring rainfall forecasts, and engaging with local communities to enhance flood preparedness. Regular inspections, maintenance, and monitoring of the dam are also conducted to ensure its structural integrity and early detection of any potential issues.
Moving forward, the US Army Corps of Engineers plans to recommend further studies to assess and quantify existing risk factors associated with Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1. By continuously improving risk communication activities, updating the Emergency Action Plan, and coordinating closely with first responders, the aim is to enhance the dam's safety and effectively manage any potential threats to public safety and infrastructure.
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 Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gila River Below Painted Rock Dam | · | → |
| Enterprise Canal At Gillespie Dam | 9 cfs | → |
| Gila Bend Canal At Gillespie Dam | 40 cfs | → |
| Gila R Blw Gillespie Dam | 6 cfs | → |
| Centennial Wash At Southern Pacific Railroad Brdg | · | → |
| Hassayampa River Near Arlington | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1.
Track Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1 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 Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1
Where does the data for Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1 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 Painted Rock Dam - Saddle Dike 1.