Dam Safety Administration

Dam Safety Chronicle and Objectives 

Over several decades hundreds of dams have been constructed on State Trust lands, for different uses and objectives, ranging from small dams that impound water for stock ponds associated with ranch leases, to large structures for flood control and protection of personal property and human life. The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) has identified 22 Jurisdictional Dams (JD) situated on State Trust lands, and holds the Land Department responsible for the compliance of ADWR requirements, specifications and approval for their continued operation, even if the structures are owned by private individuals or companies, Public Flood Districts, Municipalities, or other State Agencies. Based on Arizona Revised Statues (A.R.S.), ADWR classifies JDs as any artificial barrier over 25 feet high, or with a storage capacity of more than 50 acre-feet. Accordingly, the Land Department has developed a comprehensive Dam Safety Program (DSP) responsible to manage and promote compliance with ADWR requirements for all existing Jurisdictional, non-Jurisdictional or Unsafe Dams on Trust lands. Increased urbanization and development of suburban areas where most of the structures are located, increases the potential liability of the State for damage to personal property and/or loss of human life in the event of dam failure and flood. The main objective of the program is to develop and maintain an emergency protocol system that will facilitate the Department’s goal to reduce the State liabilities associated with potential dam failures and floods. Concurrently, the Department is looking for future funds availability to implement the dismantling or retrofitting of some of the jurisdictional dam on Trust lands, therefore reducing the potential liability to the State.