Cave Creek dam
Cave Creek
Cave Creek is a vital flood risk reduction infrastructure located in Maricopa County, Arizona, with a primary purpose of mitigating flood risks along the Cave Creek river or stream. Built in 1923, this multi-arch dam stands at a structural height of 120 feet and has a hydraulic height of 44 feet. With a storage capacity of 14,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 660 acres, Cave Creek plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding.
Managed by the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Cave Creek is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 400 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 20,000 cubic feet per second. Despite being rated as having low hazard potential and a moderate risk level, Cave Creek has not been assessed for its condition and emergency action plan preparedness. It serves as an essential piece of infrastructure in the region, safeguarding the community from the impacts of flooding and ensuring water resource management in the area.
Located just 6 miles from Phoenix, Cave Creek stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction efforts in the region. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance and monitoring, this dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Maricopa County. As a multi-arch dam with a long history of service, Cave Creek remains a key asset in protecting the surrounding areas from the potential risks posed by flooding events along the Cave Creek river or stream.
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 Creek -- 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 | · | → |
| Agua Fria River Near Rock Springs | 1 cfs | → |
| Indian Bend Wash At Curry Road | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cave Creek.
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
- North Canyon Creek
- Encanto Park
- Lake Pleasant
- Western Canal
- Bartlett Reservoir
- Horsethief Boating Site / Day Use Area
Track Cave Creek 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 Creek
Where does the data for Cave Creek 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 Low 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 Creek.