Bartlett Dam Explained

Bartlett Dam
Dam Crosses:Verde River
Location:Tonto National Forest, Maricopa County, near Phoenix, Arizona
Status:In use
Dam Type:Concrete, multiple-arch buttress
Dam Length:823feet
Dam Height:308.5feet
Dam Width Base:7.5feet
Dam Width Crest:4.5feet
Dam Volume:223773cuyd
Spillway Type:Service, gate-controlled
Spillway Capacity:287500ft3/s
Construction Began:1936
Opening:1939
Owner:U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Operator:Salt River Project
Res Name:Bartlett Lake
Res Capacity Total:178186acre.ft
Res Catchment:6160sqmi
Res Surface:2700acres
Location Map:Arizona
Coordinates:33.8181°N -111.6317°W

The Bartlett Dam is a concrete multiple-arch buttress dam on the Verde River, located 50 km northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The dam creates Bartlett Lake and its primary purpose is irrigation water supply. It was the first dam constructed on the Verde River and the first of its type constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. It was built between 1936 and 1939. It was named after Bill Bartlett, a government surveyor. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

History

In response to the Great Depression and subsequent drops in crop prices, farmers struggled harder to have a dam constructed on the Verde River.[1] Finally, in 1935, the Salt River Project received approval to build the Bartlett Dam. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation constructed the dam between 1936 and 1939, in a total of 1,000 days.[2] Upon completion, the dam was the tallest multiple arch buttress type in the world at the time.[3] 80% of the funding for the dam was provided by the Salt River Project (SRP) and 20% by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[4] Construction on the dam provided needed jobs and flood control on the river. Although flood waters temporarily halted construction in February 1937, flooding was finally minimized with the construction of the dam. The next large flood in the area would not come until the winter of 1965–66.[5]

Because of safety concerns, the dam was later modified during the mid-1990s by the Bureau of Reclamation. Beginning in March 1994, the dam was raised 21.5feet and subsequently, its service spillway was modified as well to accompany the new height. An unlined auxiliary spillway was also constructed about 1500feet south of the dam's left abutment. The new spillway consists of a concrete control structure and a three-segment fuse plug which is designed to erode in specific stages during flooding. The modifications to the dam were complete in December 1996.[6]

Design, dimensions, and impoundment

The Bartlett dam consists of 10 arches, 9 buttresses, and is flanked by 2 gravity wing dams.[7] Before being modified, the Bartlett Dam was 287feet tall and contained 182000cuyd of concrete.[6] After the mid-1990s modification, the dam is 308.5feet tall, made of 223773cuyd of concrete, and has a length of 823feet. The width of the dam arch's ranges from 7.5feet at its base and 4.5feet at its crest.[8]

The reservoir created by the dam, Bartlett Lake, has a 178186acre.ft capacity at the normal surface water elevation of 1798feet. It drains an area of 6160sqmi and has a surface area of 2700acres. The dam's outlet works have a discharge capacity of 2400ft3/s. When the reservoir is at the maximum water elevation of 1821feet, the service spillway has a 287500ft3/s capacity while the auxiliary spillway can discharge up to 261700ft3/s.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Company Perspective: Salt River Project. Funding Universe. 27 August 2010.
  2. Web site: SRP Historic Timeline. Salt River Project. 27 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101105123809/http://www.srpnet.com/about/history/timelinetext.aspx. 5 November 2010. dead.
  3. Book: Multiple Arch Dam to Hold Vast Irrigation Lake in Check. Popular Mechanics . 28 August 2010. Feb 1939.
  4. Web site: Bartlett Dam. Salt River Project. 27 August 2010.
  5. Web site: History of Maricopa County Flooding. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County. 27 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100828163954/http://www.fcd.maricopa.gov/Education/history.aspx. 28 August 2010. dead.
  6. Web site: Bartlett Dam Overview. U.S. Bureau or Reclamation. 27 August 2010.
  7. Web site: DAMS buttress dams . Tripod . 27 August 2010.
  8. Web site: Bartlett Dam dimensions . usbr.gov/projects . . 27 August 2010.
  9. Web site: Bartlett Dam – Hydraulics & Hydrology . usbr.gov/projects . . 27 August 2010.