History of the Lake Pleasant Waddell Dam
Early Dam Construction
In 1895, W.H. Beardsley assumed control of the Agua Fria Water and Land Company and began construction of the Lower Lake Diversion Dam. After several delays, the dam was completed in 1927. It stood 84 feet above the river and measured 600 feet in length.
Between 1926 and 1928, the “Carl” Pleasant Dam—later renamed the Waddell Dam—was constructed, creating the upper portion of the lake. At the time of its completion, it was considered the largest agricultural dam in the world. The dam stood 76 feet high and 2,160 feet long, with an elevation of 1,601 feet above sea level. It created a lake covering approximately 3,706 surface acres with more than 50 miles of shoreline.
Creation of the Regional Park
Lake Pleasant Regional Park was established in 1965. At that time, the park and lake covered approximately 14,000 acres. It remains the only water-based park in the Maricopa County Parks system.
The New Waddell Dam
The New Waddell Dam was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation and completed in 1993. This project expanded the lake’s surface area to approximately 10,000 acres and increased the regional park’s total acreage to about 23,662 acres.
In 1992, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation entered into a 50-year agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to manage and operate Lake Pleasant Regional Park.
Water Levels and Operations
The Central Arizona Water Conservation District manages the lake’s water levels.
Lake Pleasant receives water from:
- The Central Arizona Project (CAP) canal
- The Agua Fria River
Water levels typically reach their highest elevation in mid-spring, rising to approximately 1,702 feet above sea level. Beginning in June, water is released through the CAP canal to support irrigation in the West Valley and agricultural areas, as well as cities and towns as far south as Tucson.
Today, Lake Pleasant serves as both a critical water resource and a popular destination for recreation in Maricopa County.