Cave Creek Dam (Arizona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave Creek Dam |
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|---|---|
| Location | Maricopa County, Arizona, USA |
| Opening date | 1923 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Cave Creek Wash |
| Height | 45 feet (14 m) |
| Length | 1,665 feet (507 m) |
The Cave Creek Dam is an old concrete dam located near Cave Creek, Arizona. It was built in 1923 to help stop floods in the northern part of Phoenix, Arizona. For many years, from 1923 until 1979, this dam was the main way to protect the area from too much water. It was later replaced by a newer, larger dam called the Cave Buttes Dam.
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What is the Cave Creek Dam?
The Cave Creek Dam is a type of dam known as a multiple-arch concrete dam. This means it's made of concrete and has several curved sections, like arches, that help it stand strong against the water. It was designed to hold back water from the Cave Creek Wash, which is a natural waterway.
How Big is the Dam?
The dam is quite long, stretching about 1,665 feet (which is about 507 meters) across the wash. It stands about 45 feet (or 14 meters) tall. While it might not be the biggest dam in the world, it was very important for its time and purpose.
Why Was the Dam Built?
Before the dam was built, the area of North Phoenix often faced serious floods. When heavy rains came, the Cave Creek Wash would overflow. This caused a lot of damage to homes, farms, and roads. To protect the growing city and its people, a solution was needed.
Stopping the Floods
The main reason for building the Cave Creek Dam was to control these floods. By holding back the water, the dam helped prevent the wash from overflowing. This made the area much safer for everyone living there. It allowed people to build and live in North Phoenix without constant worry about water damage.
Who Built the Cave Creek Dam?
The Cave Creek Dam was designed and built by a famous engineer named John Samuel Eastwood. He was known for building many dams, especially in the western United States. Eastwood had a special way of designing dams using concrete arches, which made them very strong and efficient.
Eastwood's Design
John Samuel Eastwood's design for the Cave Creek Dam was quite innovative for its time. His use of multiple arches helped distribute the pressure of the water evenly. This made the dam very stable and effective at its job of flood control.
The Dam's Legacy
The Cave Creek Dam served its purpose for many decades. For 56 years, it was the primary flood protection for North Phoenix. It played a crucial role in the development and safety of the region.
A New Dam Takes Over
In 1979, a new dam, the Cave Buttes Dam, was built further downstream on the same wash. This new dam was an earthen dam, meaning it was made mostly of compacted earth. It was larger and designed to provide even greater flood protection for the expanding Phoenix area. Once the Cave Buttes Dam was completed, the Cave Creek Dam was no longer the primary flood control structure. However, it still stands as an important historical landmark.
