2021 Map of McMicken Dam

About this map

The McMicken Dam and its accompanying McMicken Dam Outlet Channel dominate this modern landscape near Surprise, Arizona. The area illustrates a complex intersection of water management and suburban expansion, featuring the massive Central Arizona Project Aqueduct and the Beardsley Canal. Residential developments like Tierra Buena Ln and numerous named streets such as W Surprise Farms Loop S spread across the desert floor, pressing against topographic features like Bunker Peak and Lake Bonita. In the northwest, the Volvo Proving Grounds and Grants Mine Rd hint at industrial and specialized land uses that precede the residential sprawl. Natural drainage through Picacho Wash and Trilby Wash is heavily modified by the extensive dam infrastructure designed to manage desert runoff for the growing community of Beardsley.