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54-740: SRP is not related to the Rio Salado Project ( Rio Salado is Spanish for Salt River ), a series of improvement projects along the Salt River through the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. SRP serves nearly all of the Phoenix metropolitan area. A large portion of its electric service territory is shared with Arizona Public Service . Each company of SRP is governed separately. For the Association, landowners elect

108-686: A U.S. survey foot (exactly ⁠ 1200 / 3937 ⁠   meters since 1893). On December 31, 2022, the National Institute of Standards and Technology , the National Geodetic Survey , and the United States Department of Commerce deprecated use of the US survey foot and recommended conversion to either the meter or the international foot. As a rule of thumb in US water management, one acre-foot

162-477: A massive expansion project aimed at increasing the capacity of the lake was finished. The dam was resurfaced with concrete and raised an additional 77 feet (23 m), which had the effect of increasing the lake's capacity by over 20%, and providing much needed flood control space on the Salt River. Shortly after completion, however, the area entered into a prolonged period of drought, and it would be some time before

216-539: A president, a vice president, a 10-member board of governors and 30 council members. For the District, landowners elect a president, a vice president, a 14-member board of directors and 30 council members. The officials of each organization are elected on the first Tuesday in April of even-numbered years. The last scheduled Association and District elections were held on April 7, 2020. Both are elected by all landowners in

270-581: Is 3,600 cubic feet per second (100 m /s), with 2,000 cubic feet per second (57 m /s) for the Arizona Canal, and 1,600 cubic feet per second (45 m /s) for the Southern Canal. Below Granite Reef Dam, the Salt River leaves the mountains and flows past the cities of Mesa , Tempe , and Scottsdale , then south of downtown Phoenix , where it passes north of South Mountain Park . With

324-805: Is a member of the Large Public Power Council (LPPC). Salt River Project is a member of the American Public Power Association (APPA). Salt River Project is a member of the Labor and Management Public Affairs Committee (LAMPAC), a utility labor organization. Salt River Project sponsored programming on the order of $ 15,000 between 2006 and 2009 to the Democratic Attorneys General Association. Salt River Project took part in several energy-related initiatives for and through

378-640: Is a river in Gila and Maricopa counties in Arizona , United States, that is the largest tributary of the Gila River . The river is about 200 miles (320 km) long. Its drainage basin covers about 13,700 square miles (35,000 km ). The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the 195-mile (314 km) Verde River . The Salt's headwaters tributaries, the Black River and East Fork, increase

432-678: Is equipped with hydroelectric generators. After completion of the four dams on the Salt River, SRP turned to the smaller Verde River for further expansion of the project. Like the reservoirs on the Salt, the Verde reservoirs are used for recreational purposes as well as water storage and flood control. The first of the lakes on the Verde River was created with the construction of the Bartlett Dam , finishing in 1939. At 308.5 feet (94 m) tall,

486-829: Is on the board of directors of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry serving as the Chair of Public Affairs Committee. Salt River Project is an "Arizona Trustee" member of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry . Russell Smoldon, representing Salt River Project, is on the board of directors for the Greater Phoenix Urban League Salt River Project is a member of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Salt River Project

540-521: Is slightly larger than Bartlett but has a smaller total capacity, holding only 131,427 acre-feet (162,113,000 m) at maximum. Phelps Dodge, Inc., a large mining company in Arizona, constructed the Blue Ridge Dam (now named C.C. Cragin) in 1965 to help meet its water needs. A water exchange agreement penned three years earlier promised the facilities to SRP, and in 2005 SRP took possession of

594-410: Is taken to be the planned annual water usage of a suburban family household. In some areas of the desert Southwest, where water conservation is followed and often enforced, a typical family uses only about 0.25 acre-foot per year (310  m /a) of water per year. One acre-foot/year is approximately 119 cu ft/d (3.38 m /d). The acre-foot per year has been used historically in

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648-579: Is the site of the Initial Survey point for Arizona, the Gila and Salt River Meridian . The Salt River formerly flowed through its entire course year-round. However, the free-flowing river would frequently flood, including a massive flood in 1891 . This flood, as well as others, led to the construction of several dams, beginning with the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, have caused the river to become intermittent in many parts. Despite

702-481: Is to serve as water storage for the Phoenix metropolitan area, with a total capacity of 3,292,054 acre feet . These reservoirs also serve as important recreational centers. The lakes are regularly stocked with fish, and are supplied with boat ramps for both angling and other watersports. Theodore Roosevelt Dam and the Roosevelt Lake it forms are considered perhaps the crowning achievements of SRP. With

756-713: The Colorado River , making them a major provider of electric service in the Phoenix area. Along with the six reservoirs along the Salt and Verde rivers , SRP operates dams at the Blue Ridge Reservoir as well as the Granite Reef Diversion Dam and a number of canals, making the SRP a major provider of water to the Phoenix area. SRP owns and operates four reservoirs along the Salt River east of Phoenix. The main function of these reservoirs

810-770: The Four Peaks Wilderness , near the Four Peaks . A few miles downstream of Stewart Mountain Dam, the last of the four Salt River Project dams, the Verde River joins the Salt from the north. Fountain Hills is located a few miles to the northwest. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is located near the Verde–Salt confluence. The Tonto National Forest ends a couple miles below the Verde River confluence, and

864-543: The Salt River Project . The river's water is distributed over more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of irrigation canals, used primarily for the growing of cotton , alfalfa , fruit, and vegetables. North American beavers ( Castor canadensis ) historically flourished on the river. In an historical account, George C. Yount, a fur trapper with the Pattie expedition, wrote on 1 February 1863, "...we began to ascend

918-507: The Salt River Project . The water is used by the Phoenix metropolitan area for municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes. The storage capacity of the reservoirs is 2,910,200 acre-feet (3.5897 × 10  m ) for Roosevelt, 245,100 acre-feet (302,300,000 m ) for Apache, 57,900 acre-feet (71,400,000 m ) for Canyon, and 69,800 acre-feet (86,100,000 m ) for Saguaro. As the Salt River passes through its reservoirs, it flows by

972-908: The Tonto National Forest . Tempe Boat Rentals at Tempe Town Lake: Small passenger boats including kayaks, pedal boats, electric powered pontoons and fishing boats. This is an independent contractor and not managed by the City of Tempe. Notes Further reading Acre foot The acre-foot is a non- SI unit of volume equal to about 1,233 m commonly used in the United States in reference to large-scale water resources, such as reservoirs , aqueducts , canals , sewer flow capacity, irrigation water, and river flows . An acre-foot equals approximately an eight-lane swimming pool , 82 ft (25 m) long, 52 ft (16 m) wide and 9.8 ft (3 m) deep. As

1026-860: The Western Governors Association (WGA). Salt River Project is a member of the Associates program of the Council of State Governments (CSG). Russell Smolden, representing Salt River Project, sits on the Private Enterprise Board of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Salt River (Arizona) The Salt River ( Spanish : Río Salado , O'odham [Pima] : Onk Akimel , Yavapai : Hakanyacha or Hakathi: , Maricopa language : Va Shly'ay )

1080-643: The 2013-2014 Board of Directors for the Public Affairs Council (PAC). Salt River Project is a Gold Sponsor for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Peter Hayes, an Associate General Manager at SRP, is on the board of directors of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC). Salt River Project has been a member of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) since 1940. Molly Greene,

1134-541: The Black River [Salt River]... We found it to abound with beavers... We followed up this stream to where it forks in the mountains; that is to say, about 80 miles from its mouth." In 2022, fish kill was caused in three lakes by golden algae . There are turbidity problems along many stream reaches in Salt River's watershed; these are related to rangeland management , recreation, mining, sand and gravel operations, and other sources. High levels of fecal coliform bacteria and ammonia have been reported for Carrizo Creek and

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1188-705: The Black River, forms the boundary between the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to the north and the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation to the south. The Salt River is fed by numerous perennial streams that start as springs and seeps along the Mogollon Rim and in the White Mountains. The Salt River is perennial from its tributary headwaters to Granite Reef Diversion Dam near Mesa . From

1242-603: The Black and White confluence, the Salt River flows generally west and southwest. It is joined by Carrizo Creek, a 25-mile (40 km) perennial stream, and then flows through the Salt River Canyon . Cibecue Creek, a 36-mile (58 km) perennial stream, joins the river in the canyon, flowing from the north through the Fort Apache Reservation. Between Carrizo and Cibecue creeks, the Salt River becomes

1296-403: The Phoenix metropolitan area that distributes water from the Salt River system. Major canals operated by SRP are: SRP also operates flood control canals throughout the Phoenix area. Besides the power generated at several of the dams along the Salt River, SRP owns or operates, in part, several power generating stations throughout the state: Renee Eastman, representing Salt River Project, is on

1350-489: The SRP service area through a "debt-proportionate" system. For instance, a person who owns five acres casts five votes. The Hohokam , the ancestors of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian and Gila River Indian communities, built canals spanning nearly 500 miles. The SRP canal system follows much of the ancient canal network. Early settlers in Phoenix and nearby areas were forced to rely on

1404-526: The Salt River Project. Below the diversion dam, the bed of the Salt River is dry, except following rain or upstream runoff. The USGS stream gage at 51st Avenue, Phoenix, records no flow at all on many days—in 2009, for example, there was no flow for most of the year, except during parts of February and March when the river's discharge reached an average of 87 cubic feet per second (2.5 m /s). The diversion capacity at Granite Reef Diversion Dam

1458-415: The Salt River among the various members living in the valley. Hydroelectricity was produced at the dam site during construction, and used for the manufacture of cement and other purposes. In 1906 (before the dam was completed) electricity began to be produced from a hydroelectric generator within the dam. Almost all of the electricity not needed for agriculture, including the majority of that used in Phoenix,

1512-464: The Salt River enters the eastern edge of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Less than 1 ⁄ 2 mile (0.80 km) from the national forest boundary, the Granite Reef Diversion Dam diverts all remaining water in the Salt River into the Arizona Canal and Southern Canal, which deliver drinking and irrigation water to much of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The dam and canals are part of

1566-566: The US in many water-management agreements, for example the Colorado River Compact , which divides 15 million acre-feet per year (19 cubic kilometres per year) among seven western US states. Water reservoir capacities in the US are commonly given in thousands of acre-feet , abbreviated TAF or KAF . In most other countries except the US, the metric system is in common use and water volumes are normally expressed in liter , cubic meter or cubic kilometer . One acre-foot

1620-681: The White River. In ancient times, the river was home to the Salado culture and the Hohokam culture . The Akimel O'odham , also known as the Pima people , lived along the Salt River and dug canals, using irrigation to provide water to their villages and farms in the arid environment. The river was known to the authorities of New Spain as the Río Salado . The United States government recognized

1674-590: The boundary between the Tonto National Forest on the south and the Fort Apache Reservation on the north. Another perennial stream joins from the north, 46-mile (74 km) long Canyon Creek , followed by Cherry Creek . Just downstream from the Salt's confluence with Medicine Creek, a portion of the Tonto National Forest is designated the Salt River Canyon Wilderness . The Salt River forms the northern and western boundary of

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1728-479: The confluence of the Salt and Verde rivers, does not actually hold back a reservoir but is used to divert water from those rivers into the system of canals feeding into the Phoenix area. It was actually the first of the dams constructed, finished in 1906 to replace the Arizona Dam, which had been washed away by floods the previous year. SRP operates canals running in a network through much of the southern half of

1782-590: The dam and water production facilities. Located on the Mogollon Rim , C.C. Cragin is not on the Salt or Verde rivers but is a part of the general watershed covered in the SRP area. The small lake has a storage capacity of only 15,000 acre-feet (19,000,000 m) of water and is used to augment the water supply for the Gila River Indian Community, northern Gila County and the town of Payson. The Granite Reef Diversion Dam , constructed near

1836-442: The dam stands 300 feet (91 m) high. The lake itself is considerably smaller than Roosevelt at only 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) of surface area at full capacity, and can store 254,138 acre-feet (313,475,000 m) of water. Like the rest of the Salt River lakes downstream from Roosevelt, Apache Lake is long and narrow, filling the bottom of the canyon it resides in. It does have a hydroelectric generating station. Canyon Lake ,

1890-423: The dry river bed, or arroyo , dangerous flash floods occasionally occur, especially during monsoon storms in late July and early August. Flood waters can wash out roads. Bridges have been damaged, notably in 1980, 1993, and 2005. The natural flow of the Salt is 2,570 cubic feet per second (73 m /s) at its mouth. However, except after rainfall, the Salt is dry or a small stream below Granite Reef Dam. The river

1944-459: The exception of Tempe Town Lake , the riverbed winding through the cities is usually dry, except when heavy rains upstream force Stewart Mountain Dam to release more water than can be diverted at Granite Reef Dam. The Salt River joins the Gila on the southwestern edge of Phoenix, approximately 15 miles (24 km) from the center of the city. Monument Hill overlooks the confluence of the two rivers and

1998-656: The first of four reservoirs on the river. Tonto Creek joins the Salt River in Theodore Roosevelt Lake. Below Theodore Roosevelt Dam , the Salt River passes through the canyon between the Mazatzal Mountains and the Superstition Mountains and is impounded by Horse Mesa Dam (forming Apache Lake ) then Mormon Flat Dam (forming Canyon Lake ) then Stewart Mountain Dam (forming Saguaro Lake ). These four reservoirs are part of

2052-524: The flow of the Salt River to sustain agricultural activities. The river was prone to both floods and droughts and proved to be a less than reliable resource for the settlers. Failed plans to build a dam on the river in 1897, combined with a series of droughts, heightened the need for controlling the river. With the passage of the National Reclamation Act of 1902 , funding for reclamation projects with low-interest government loans paved

2106-530: The initial funds raised by the association in 1903, an ambitious project was begun several miles east of Phoenix in the Tonto Valley, at the confluence of the Tonto Creek and the Salt River. At its completion in 1911, Roosevelt Dam was the tallest masonry dam in the world at 280 feet (85 m). It was dedicated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt , for whom the dam and the reservoir are named. In 1996,

2160-437: The multiple-arch dam is lacking in hydroelectric generating capabilities, unlike most dams on the Salt River. Bartlett Lake , with 2,700 acres (1,100 ha) of surface area at capacity, is larger than all the Salt River reservoirs save Roosevelt. When full the lake can hold 178,186 acre-feet (219,789,000 m) of water. Horseshoe Lake is formed by Horseshoe Dam and was finished in 1946, upstream from Lake Bartlett. Unlike

2214-431: The name suggests, an acre-foot is defined as the volume of one acre of surface area to a depth of one foot . Since an acre is defined as a chain by a furlong (i.e. 66 ft × 660 ft or 20.12 m × 201.17 m), an acre-foot is 43,560 cubic feet (1,233.5  m ). There has been two definitions of the acre-foot (differing by about 0.0006%), using either the international foot (0.3048 m) or

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2268-524: The new capacity was used, with the lake finally reaching historic levels of 90% capacity in early 2005. With an at-capacity surface area of nearly 21,500 acres (8,700 ha), Roosevelt is the largest lake that is wholly inside the state of Arizona. It can store 2,910,200 acre-feet (3.5897 × 10 m) of water at capacity. Apache Lake was formed by the construction of the Horse Mesa Dam , finished in 1927. Several miles downstream from Roosevelt,

2322-491: The other Salt River dams, it is equipped with hydroelectric generators. Saguaro Lake is formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam , downstream from Canyon Lake. Completed in 1930, it was the last of the reservoirs to be built on the Salt River. It is somewhat larger than Canyon but smaller than the others, having a surface area of 1,280 acres (520 ha) when full, holding 69,765 acre-feet (86,054,000 m). The dam

2376-475: The other dams built to this point, the construction was done by the Phelps Dodge Corporation as part of a water exchange agreement. In 1949, the city of Phoenix funded the construction of spillway gates for the dam in exchange for water rights for city users. Like Bartlett, this dam does not have hydroelectric generating capabilities. At 2,800 acres (1,100 ha) in surface area when full it

2430-805: The river's total length to about 300 miles (480 km). The name Salt River comes from the river's course over large salt deposits shortly after the merging of the White and Black Rivers. According to the Geographic Names Information System , the Salt River has also been known as: The Salt River is formed by the confluence of the White River and the Black River in the White Mountains of eastern Gila County. The White and Black rivers, and other tributaries of

2484-510: The second half of SRP as it exists today. Over the next several decades, a series of major improvements along the Salt and Verde rivers would raise the number of reservoirs in the district to six, and at the same time SRP was constructing and maintaining a number of other electrical generating stations throughout the state. As of 2007, SRP owns or operates eleven electrical generating stations, seven hydroelectric plants, and has energy purchasing agreements with four major hydroelectric stations along

2538-1008: The territory of the Pima people by way of executive order signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes . A subsequent executive order also signed by President Hayes reduced the size of the Salt River portion of the reserve from approximately 680,000 acres to 46,627 acres. Today the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community live alongside the bank of the Salt River maintaining their traditions and way of life from before European colonization. Cherry Creek to Roosevelt Lake : Paved, gravel and trail access, live bait fish (restrictions in effect), no motors allowed, primitive parking area, camping allowed, area mostly inaccessible. Below Saguaro Lake : Paved and dirt access, live bait fish, swimming, no motors allowed, parking area, tables, restrooms, camping allowed. Several camp and picnic areas, drained in winter. The above facilities are maintained by

2592-540: The third lake on the Salt River, is created by the Mormon Flat Dam . The dam was completed in 1925, being the second of the dams to be completed. The dam is named for a nearby geographical feature, a flat campground where Mormon pioneers from Utah would often stop on their journey to the Phoenix area. Downstream from Apache Lake, it is considerably smaller with only 950 acres (380 ha) of surface area when full, holding 57,852 acre-feet (71,359,000 m). Like

2646-443: The upper Salt River, drain the region between the Mogollon Rim in the north and the Natanes Mountains and Natanes Plateau to the east and south. Tributaries of the Salt River also drain the Sierra Ancha and Mazatzal Mountains . The White and Black rivers drain the White Mountains in the Fort Apache Indian Reservation . Together the two rivers drain an area of about 1,900 square miles (4,900 km ). The Salt River, along with

2700-415: The way for the creation of the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association the following year. Over 200,000 acres (81,000 ha) of private land belonging to the ranchers and farmers in the association were pledged for collateral and the association was officially incorporated February 7, 1903, becoming the first multipurpose project started under the reclamation act. Following on March 14, 1903, this project

2754-440: The wilderness for several miles, after which the national forest and wilderness occupy both sides of the river. Continuing its westward course, the Salt River is joined by Pinal Creek from the south, just before leaving the Salt River Canyon Wilderness. The river continues to flow through the Tonto National Forest until leaving the mountains near Mesa. Below the Pinal Creek confluence, the Salt River enters Theodore Roosevelt Lake ,

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2808-434: Was formerly navigable throughout its course by small craft. The river is still navigable in the majority of the area where it still carries water. The river was used for irrigation by the pre-Columbian Hohokam culture, by later Native Americans , and by early Euro-American settlers in the 19th century. It currently provides a major source of irrigation and drinking water for Phoenix and surrounding communities through

2862-400: Was one of the first five reclamation projects approved, under the Act, by the Secretary of the Interior. Construction on the Roosevelt Dam would commence the following year. Although the construction of dams was the association's most visible and costly project, an integral part of the effort was also the construction and improvement of a system of canals designed to distribute the water from

2916-406: Was sold to PG&E under an agreement that prohibited the United States Bureau of Reclamation from selling retail electricity within the city. In 1936, the Arizona Legislature allowed for the creation of governmental districts that could finance large-scale agricultural projects with tax-free bonds. Shortly thereafter, the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District was created,

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