Theodore Roosevelt Dam stands at an impressive 357 feet tall, holding back more than 1.6 million acre-feet of water at Roosevelt Lake. It also holds a great deal of Arizona’s history. The more-than-110-year-old dam helped early settlers tame the raging waters of the Salt River, bringing water to the desert and making economic development possible.

Today, it’s a vital part of a water delivery system responsible for delivering over half of the Valley’s yearly water supply. Explore the wonders of this monumental human-made structure, from the time it was constructed to the plans we have for its future.

Theodore Roosevelt Dam forms Roosevelt Lake, the largest lake located entirely within Arizona's borders and a destination for fishing, boating and water sports.

Roosevelt Dam Spill Gate Test

Every year at Roosevelt Dam, we conduct a spill gate test, required by the Bureau of Reclamation, to confirm operational readiness in the event of flooding. This consists of dam operators opening the reservoir flood gates to release water downstream where no water is wasted and remains a valuable water resource in Apache Lake.