Palo Verde Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palo Verde Dam |
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| Location | La Paz County, Arizona / Riverside County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°43′57″N 114°30′39″W / 33.7325°N 114.5107°W |
| Construction began | 1956 |
| Opening date | 1958 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Colorado River |
| Height | 45 ft |
| Length | 1850 ft |
The Palo Verde Dam is a special kind of dam on the Colorado River. It is officially known as the Palo Verde Diversion Dam. This dam is located where the states of Arizona and California meet. It sits about 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of Blythe. Unlike dams that create large lakes, the Palo Verde Dam is a "diversion dam." This means its main job is to guide water into canals, not to store it.
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What is the Palo Verde Dam?
The Palo Verde Dam is built from earth and rocks. It was constructed to help move water from the Colorado River. This water is then used to water farms and other lands. The dam is quite long, stretching about 1,850 feet (564 meters) across the river. It stands about 46 feet (14 meters) tall from the riverbed.
Building the Dam
Work on the Palo Verde Dam started in 1956. It took two years to build and was finished in 1958. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation gave the approval for its construction. This government agency helps manage water resources in the United States.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The Palo Verde Dam was needed because of other big dams upstream, like the Hoover Dam and Davis Dam. These dams trapped a lot of the sand and dirt that the Colorado River used to carry. Without this natural sediment, the riverbed downstream started to get lower. This made it hard to get water out of the river for farming. The Palo Verde Dam was built to raise the water level again. This made it easier to send water into the irrigation canals.
How the Dam Helps Farmers
The Palo Verde Dam plays a very important role in farming. It diverts a huge amount of water, about 1,800 cubic feet (51 cubic meters) per second. This water is used to irrigate a large area of land. This includes about 121,000 acres (490 square kilometers) in the Palo Verde Valley. These lands are on the California side of the Colorado River.
Moving the Water
The water enters the main irrigation canal through special openings. These openings have four large pipes, each about 12 feet (3.7 meters) by 8 feet (2.4 meters). The dam also has a "spillway." A spillway is like a safety valve for the dam. It has three large gates, each 50 feet (15 meters) long. These gates can open to let extra water flow past the dam if needed. This helps control the river's flow and prevents flooding. The control building for the dam is located right near where the water enters the canal.
