Photos: Golder Lake and dam, 1963-1980
The recreational lake northwest of Tucson, just south of what is now Saddlebrooke, was a dream of developer Lloyd Golder III. The 260-acre recreational lake cost more than $1 million. When it was completed it was expected to stretch one-and-a-half miles across and be 120-feet deep at its lowest point. The earthen dam was declared was unsafe and was breached in 1980.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
An aerial view of Golder Dam, background, on the Canyon del Oro Wash and the lake behind it, looking south-southwest, in February, 1979, after winter storms produced runoff.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Runoff from the Santa Catalina Mountains starts to fill the reservoir at Golder Lake as it builds up against the dam, left, northwest of Tucson on December, 1965. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million. When it was completed it was expected to stretch one-and-a-half miles across and be 120-feet deep at its lowest point.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Excavation for the construction of Golder Dam in September, 1963. Lloyd Golder III who developed Golder Lake, said he expected the water level to hit a depth of 105 feet and wanted to stock it with catfish and bass. It expected it to be a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million. When it was completed it was expected to stretch one-and-a-half miles across and be 120-feet deep at its lowest point.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Lloyd Golder III stands on the banks of Golder Lake after summer rains started to fill the reservoir northwest of Tucson on August 1964. Runoff poured water into the more than 50 acres of the basin. At the time, Golder who developed the lake, said he expected the water level to hit a depth of 105 feet and wanted to stock it with catfish and bass. It expected it to be a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
A water skiier on Golder Lake near the dam in the 1960s. At the time, Lloyd III Golder, who developed the lake, said he expected the water level to hit a depth of 105 feet and wanted to stock it with catfish and bass. It expected it to be a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Rains and runoff from the Santa Catalina Mountains filled the reservoir at Golder Lake spilling toward the west edge northwest of Tucson on February, 1979. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million. When it was completed it was expected to stretch one-and-a-half miles across and be 120-feet deep at its lowest point. The dam was later breached in 1980.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
A small sail boat traverses the water at Golder Lake while children play by the shore northwest of Tucson in July, 1972. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Children play with a dog at Golder Lake in this 1972 photo. Rains and runoff from the Santa Catalina Mountains filled the reservoir at Golder Lake northwest of Tucson.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
A woman sun bathes along the shore at Golder Lake as others frolic in the waters northwest of Tucson in July, 1972. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
A couple of boys run in the shallow waters at Golder Lake northwest of Tucson on July, 1972. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million. When it was completed it was expected to stretch one-and-a-half miles across and be 120-feet deep at its lowest point.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Anglers try their luck at fishing at Golder Lake northwest of Tucson in July, 1972. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million. When it was completed it was expected to stretch one-and-a-half miles across and be 120-feet deep at its lowest point.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
Local media is present as a Pinal County Sheriff's deputy reads a temporary restraining order to protesting residents who lived downstream from Golder Lake northwest of Tucson in May 1980. The order kept residents from interfering with the breaching of the dam. The residents threatened to lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop the the breaching. They were afraid the breaching would result in flooding their property.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
A bulldozer cuts an access road across the face of Golder Dam as the breaching of the reservoir begins northwest of Tucson in May 1980. The Arizona Water Commission said the dam was unsafe and ordered its destruction. Nearby residents protested the destruction of the dam fearing it could lead to flooding of their lands which were downstream.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
The local residents who lived downstream were afraid the breaching would result in flooding their property. Workers breached the Golder Dam on July 3, 1980.
Golder Lake and dam 1963-1980
The Arizona Water Commission said the dam was unsafe and ordered its destruction. Nearby residents protested the destruction of the dam fearing it could lead to flooding of their lands which were downstream. The lake, developed by Lloyd Golder III, was a 260-acre recreational lake that cost more than $1 million.The breached Golder Dam and emptied lake behind it on the CDO Wash in August, 1980.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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