Cave Buttes dam
Cave Buttes
Cave Buttes, located in Maricopa County, Arizona, is a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the Cave Creek River. Built in 1980, this earth dam stands at an impressive height of 93 feet, with a total structural height of 118 feet and a length of 2260 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 122,000 acre-feet, this dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Cave Buttes is subject to regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's spillway, with a width of 510 feet, helps control water flow during peak discharge events, further reducing flood risk in the region. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory, with a moderate risk level of 3, indicating a proactive approach to risk management.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Cave Buttes not only for its functional purpose in flood risk reduction but also for its contribution to the overall water management system in the area. As a critical infrastructure designed to safeguard against potential inundation, this earth dam serves as a testament to the importance of proactive water resource management and the collaboration between local government agencies and regulatory bodies to ensure community safety and resilience in the face of natural disasters.
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 Cave Buttes -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Skunk Creek Near Phoenix | · | → |
| Cave Creek Blw Cottonwood Cr Near Cave Creek | · | → |
| New River Near Rock Springs | · | → |
| Salt River At Priest Drive Near Phoenix | · | → |
| Indian Bend Wash At Curry Road | · | → |
| Agua Fria River Near Rock Springs | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cave Buttes.
Boat launches
- East Mccormick Parkway 7505, Scottsdale
- North Ramp Road Peoria
- Lake Pleasant 10 Lane Boat Ramp
- West Peninsula Road Peoria
- Castle Creek Road Peoria
- Box Bar Shoreline Area And River Access Point
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Encanto Park
- North Canyon Creek
- Lake Pleasant
- Western Canal
- Bartlett Reservoir
- Horsethief Boating Site / Day Use Area
Track Cave Buttes 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 Cave Buttes
Where does the data for Cave Buttes 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 Cave Buttes.