Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado Region, Phoenix Area Office

Roosevelt Dam - PART 4
Roosevelt Dam -Part 1 Roosevelt Dam -Part 2 Roosevelt Dam -Part 3

Benefits
Regulatory storage, enhanced flood control, improved safety, increased water conservation and additional recreational opportunities are some of the benefits resulting from this project.

New Roosevelt Lake Visitors’ Center

Recreational Benefits
As part of this project, new recreational facilities were constructed according to the terms of the Federal Water Project Recreation Act (Public Law 89-72). The Act authorized Reclamation funds for the $2.3 million Roosevelt Lake visitors’ center.

Another $42 million in Reclamation funding was used by the U.S. Forest Service to design and construct lake- side facilities to replace those impacted by the higher lake levels. These facilities include ten separate sites at the lake providing 1,515 individual campsites, 80 picnic sites, a
9-site group campground, 9 boat launch areas, and 6 fish cleaning stations. The sites are: Horse Pasture, Cholla, Windy Hill, Grapevine, Salt River Diversion, Indian Point, Schoolhouse, Vineyard, Carson's Landing and Boat Access. Also constructed were a sheriff's aid station and a marina.

New, upgraded roads make it easier for visitors
to reach the lake and the new recreation facilities. The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for managing recreation along the shoreline.

Other Benefits
In 1989, Reclamation widened and realigned a short stretch of the Apache Trail (Arizona State Route 88) in the vicinity of the dam to allow better access for construction equipment and provide safer passage for the public through the dam site during modification. In addition, Reclamation funded 55 percent of the cost to construct the
new Roosevelt Lake Bridge, and 100 percent
of the cost to relocate about 2.5 miles of state highway adjacent to the bridge.

The original dam-top highway was designed to allow two Model-T Fords to pass abreast, but today’s recreational vehicles and full-size automobiles need the width of the new 1,080-foot long bridge. In November 1995, the bridge was designated one of the top 12 bridges in the nation by the American Consulting Engineers Council, which cited its overall design, size, eye-appeal and design challenge.

Physical Data

	Original Dam	Modified Dam
Completion Dates	1903-1911	1989-1996
Type	Masonry Arch	Concrete Gravity Arch
Structural Height	280 ft.	357 ft.
Top Width	16 ft.	21.6 ft.
Max. Base Width	184 ft.	196 ft.
Crest Length	723 ft	1210 ft.
Crest Elevation (without parapets)	2,141 ft.	2,218 ft.

SPILLWAYS:

Max. Capacity

150,000 cfs

OUTLET WORKS:

Capacity

3,160 cfs

11,500 cfs

POWERPLANT:

Generation	36 Megawatts	36 Megawatts
Capacity	2,400 cfs	2,400 cfs

RESEVOIR:

Operating High Water Level*	El. 2,136	El. 2,151
Total Capacity**	1,336,734 acre ft.	1,609,168 acre ft.
Surface Area**	17,337 acres	19,199 acres
Flood Surcharge Storage***	87,793 acre ft.	1,180,202 acre ft

* Operating high water level is also known as the “active
conservation level.”
** As measured from the top of the active conservation level.
An acre foot = 325,851 gallons of water
*** As measured from the top of the active conservation level to top of dam. Logoandtext4-2

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[ Roosevelt Dam -Part 1 Roosevelt Dam -Part 2 Roosevelt Dam -Part 3 ]
[ Historical Photos ] [ Roosevelt Dam - Cultural Resource Program ] [ Workers - The Real Story ]
[ Salt River Project / Salt River Water Users Association - operating and maintaining entity ]

Last Reviewed:
August 7, 2009

Webmaster:
Joseph J. Billerbeck - jbillerbeck@usbr.gov