Theodore Roosevelt Dam
was constructed in 1911 as
the world’s largest cyclopean-masonry dam, built of huge, irregular blocks.
These were covered by concrete in a 1996 renovation which also raised the dam
by 77 feet. The dam may be viewed from two sites on State Route 88, the Apache
Trail. Inspiration Point is upstream of the dam and the Theodore Roosevelt Dam
overlook provides a look up the canyon at downstream side of the dam. Roosevelt
Reservoir is 21,493 acres at full pool. The reservoir has two arms, one on
Tonto Creek and the other along the Salt River. Recreation areas are managed by
the Tonto National Forest, which has a visitor center overlooking the lake. The
lake is spanned upstream of the dam by the Roosevelt Lake bridge on State Route
188 the longest single-span steel arch bridge in North America. The distinctive
arch bridge is 1,080 feet long and 300 feet above the water. When viewed from
the side, the bridge deck is slightly arched so drivers would not have the
perception that the bridge is sagging. Salt River Project is the operating
entity for the dam and reservoir. At the upper end of the reservoir, the
Roosevelt Diversion Dam (N33ᵒ38’ W110ᵒ56’) was constructed in 1906 to send
water to the Power Canal. The Power Canal extended 20 miles to Theodore Roosevelt
Dam, and provided water for hydroelectric generation to power the equipment
used to build the dam. The Arizona National Scenic Trail crosses the reservoir
on the State Route 188 Roosevelt Lake bridge.
Coordinates: N33ᵒ40’ W111ᵒ10’ (dam)
Ecoregion: Arizona Mountain Forests (World Wildlife Fund); Upland/Eastern Sonoran Mountains (EPA).
Owner: US Bureau of Reclamation, operated by Salt River Project
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