Arizona’s Worst Disaster: The Hassayampa Story 1886 - 2009

Arizona’s Worst Disaster is research done on the Walnut Grove Dam Disaster of 1890 that includes the history leading up to the failure, the failure and the repercussions from it. Jim Liggett, a retired professor from Cornell University with a Ph.D. in engineering, did the research in writing this book once he retired to Arizona from where he grew up as a youngster. In his book he has performed in depth research surrounding the dam and then added his calculations concerning the amount of water stored in the dam and the high water levels as the tsunami of water jettisoned down the canyon on its way to Wickenburg. It is a poignant view of engineering and dam building prior to the 1900’s. The story of the Walnut Grove Dam Disaster further lets us reflect back on how far we have come in the engineering of today’s dams and water projects.