As storms continue to hit the SRP watershed on both the Salt and Verde rivers, SRP has increased releases to approximately 54,000 cubic feet per second (403,000 gallons per second) from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams on the Salt and Verde rivers to allow the water storage necessary for dam and public safety.
While water from earlier releases will be seen in the Valley by later tonight, this increased amount should be arriving in the Valley by 6 p.m. Monday, November 2. The releases are expected to continue over the next few days and may increase overnight depending on the amount of inflow into the reservoir system.
This is lining up to be a record-breaking fall for precipitation and inflows in the Salt and Verde River watersheds after three consecutive, low-runoff seasons. October and November inflows will likely be the highest in the Verde watershed since 1972, about eight times greater than average.
“SRP works with local government entities, emergency managers and other agencies to provide information and ensure public safety during these water releases. The public is encouraged to observe any signage on road closures,” said Tim Skarupa, Senior Manager of Atmospheric Sciences and Hydrology.
Unlike the Colorado River system, which has been facing shortages due to the ongoing drought, the Salt and Verde reservoir systems are nearly in balance where annual demand is close to the annual supply. However, in wet years such as this year, runoff can exceed the available capacity of the reservoir system.
Cities and irrigation districts that take deliveries from the SRP system will be given the opportunity to take this additional water so it can be put to beneficial use. The water will also flow downstream in the normally dry Salt River and recharge the aquifer, which also benefits Valley cities and water providers.
The water will flow over Granite Reef Diversion Dam through the normally dry Salt River as it makes its way through the Valley.
Several roads located in the East and West Valley that were built in the normally dry Salt River riverbed will be closed. Updated road information can be found on the ADOT website at AZ511.com.
SRP is currently evaluating alternatives on increasing the storage capacity and mitigating future storage losses due to sedimentation for the Verde River reservoir system. A group of 23 partners, including tribal, agricultural and municipal organizations have committed to support the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) feasibility study of options to modify Bartlett Dam to improve management of water resources provided by the Verde River.
