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24-582: The Salt River Valley is an extensive valley on the Salt River in central Arizona , which contains the Phoenix Metropolitan Area . Although this geographic term still identifies the area, the name "Valley of the Sun" popularly replaced the usage starting in the early 1930s for purposes of boosterism . A common dust for testing air filter efficiency was derived from top soil dust from

48-736: A portion of the Tonto National Forest is designated the Salt River Canyon Wilderness . The Salt River forms the northern and western boundary of 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

72-581: 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

96-629: 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

120-869: The Apache Trail from Apache Junction, Arizona and 51 miles (82 km) east of Phoenix . It is within the Superstition Wilderness of Tonto National Forest and is a popular recreation area for the Phoenix metropolitan area . Recreation amenities include hiking trails, camping, and boating, all managed by the United States Forest Service . Canyon Lake is a popular stop along the Apache Trail ( Arizona State Route 88 ) from Apache Junction, Arizona , passing Tortilla Flat, Arizona , before reaching Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake behind Theodore Roosevelt Dam . In 2022,

144-881: 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

168-543: 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

192-453: 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

216-526: 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 Canyon Lake (Arizona) Canyon Lake is one of four reservoirs that were formed by the damming of the Salt River in

240-524: The U.S. state of Arizona as part of the Salt River Project . It was formed by the Mormon Flat Dam , which was completed in 1925 after two years of construction. Canyon Lake, with a surface area of 950 acres (380 ha), is the third and smallest of the four lakes created along the river. Two others, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake , are upstream. The fourth, Saguaro Lake , is downstream. Canyon Lake lies approximately 15 miles (24 km) up

264-781: The White River and the Black River in the White Mountains of eastern Gila County. The White and Black rivers, and other tributaries of 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

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288-601: 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

312-665: 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 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

336-526: 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

360-569: The Salt River Valley, referred to as Arizona Dust. The dust was found to include small abrasive particles. 33°22′52″N 112°18′47″W  /  33.3811546°N 112.3129333°W  / 33.3811546; -112.3129333 Salt River (Arizona) According to the Geographic Names Information System , the Salt River has also been known as: The Salt River is formed by the confluence of

384-598: 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

408-864: The Tonto National Forest until leaving the mountains near Mesa. Below the Pinal Creek confluence, the Salt River enters Theodore Roosevelt Lake , 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

432-680: 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 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

456-681: 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

480-423: 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

504-459: 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

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528-508: The river in the canyon, flowing from the north through the Fort Apache Reservation. Between Carrizo and Cibecue creeks, the Salt River becomes 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,

552-1008: 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

576-434: 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

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