New Waddell Dam, Embankment dam in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
New Waddell Dam is an embankment dam on the Agua Fria River, north of the Phoenix metro area in Arizona, forming Lake Pleasant. The dam is part of the state water supply network and ranks among the largest earthen dams in the American Southwest.
A first dam was built at this site in 1927, but the growing water needs of the region called for a much larger structure. The current dam was constructed between 1985 and 1994, right next to the old one, which now lies underwater beneath the reservoir.
The dam is closely tied to the Central Arizona Project, one of the largest water delivery systems in the country, which brings Colorado River water to cities and farms across Arizona. Along the shoreline of the lake it creates, visitors today find fishing boats, campsites, and people cooling off from the desert heat.
The dam itself is not open to visitors, but the nearby Lake Pleasant Regional Park provides boat ramps, campgrounds, and trails around the water. An early morning visit is especially helpful in summer, when desert temperatures can climb sharply during the day.
The original 1927 dam was not demolished but simply submerged when the new reservoir filled up, and its outline can sometimes be seen from the surface when water levels drop. Divers have explored the old structure underwater, making the lake an unusual spot for that reason.
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