Historic American Engineering Record: Bartlett Dam, Maricopa County, Arizona

Summary

Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AZ-25 presents a written historical summary and relevant historical documentation about the construction and use of Bartlett Dam, which impounds the Verde River 50 miles northeast of Phoenix, Arizona to create Bartlett Reservoir. The report contains a narrative description, photographs, drawings, and maps.

The Bartlett Dam is a major component of the Salt River Project's water supply system that provides Verde River water for agricultural, industrial, and residential use in the lower reaches of the Verde Valley and northern portions of the Salt River Valley. The dam is historically significant, because it represents the first multiple arch dam that the Bureau of Reclamation constructed. It was also the highest multiple arch dam constructed in the United States at the time of its completion.

The development of the Verde River and eventual construction of Bartlett Dam is closely tied to the history of Verde River water rights and allocation. The Salt River Water User's Association and the Verde River Irrigation and Power District engaged in a lengthy political struggle over the river's waters. The Salt River Water User's Association ultimately won the rights to develop and manage the lower Verde.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• USDI Bureau of Reclamation, PXAO, Historic American Engineering Records (HAER), Salt River Project, Water Storage and Regulation Features along the Verde River   •
• Bartlett Dam and Bartlett Lake   •
• National Archeological Database (NADB)

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1935 to 1939 (construction of Bartlett Dam)

Calendar Date: 1920 to 1934 (conflict between the Verde River Irrigation and Power District and Salt River Water User's Association over Verde River water rights)

Calendar Date: 1889 to 1992 (early history of development along the Verde River)

Calendar Date: 1820 to 1889 (early American history in the Verde River valley and lands south of the Gila River)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Sponsor(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Prepared By(s): Salt River Project Archives

Submitted To(s): National Park Service, Western Region

Record Identifiers

Historic American Engineering Record No.(s): AZ-25

NADB document id number(s): 2203106

NADB citation id number(s): 000000167210

Notes

Redaction Note: Sensitive information has been removed from the publicly accessible digital copy of this report. The following sections and/or figures have been redacted: Figures AZ-25-43 to AZ-25-70, and Appendix III: Figure AZ-25 (pg. 79). Please contact the archaeologist at the USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office to obtain a complete digital copy of the report.

File Information