As the Valley quickly grows, so does the need to protect our watershed and the Greater Phoenix water supply. With SRP’s careful planning, our water supply is in good shape and in good hands.
Starting at the watershed
SRP has been bringing water to the Phoenix metropolitan area since 1903, before Arizona was even a state. But what exactly does it mean to bring water to the Valley?
By the time it reaches the Valley via canals, Phoenix water has traveled more than 150 miles from its source. Starting high in the mountains, it flows through forests, down rivers, into lakes and through canals and beyond — and SRP is there at every turn.
Snowmelt is a major source to our water supply, check out SRP Snowtography.
How water gets to your home
We created the image below to show you our water’s journey from the watershed to your showerhead.
Water resiliency starts with protecting our watershed
Having a resilient water supply means we are ready to meet the Valley’s water needs even if there are changes in climate or conditions.
A watershed is an area of land where rainfall and snowmelt all drain to the same place. SRP monitors three watersheds that feed the Salt and Verde rivers.
Made up of 8.3 million acres of land, these largely forested areas are the source of the water we use every day.
Forest restoration in the name of water resiliency
Right now, it’s likely that hundreds of thousands of forested acres are overgrown. Dense brush and overcrowded trees can lead to catastrophic wildfires. These wildfires can devastate forest ecosystems and degrade our water supply with ash and debris.
To deal with this challenge and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, strategic thinning is needed to remove small trees and brush. Along the way, we’re investing in critical research and educating the public on forest health.
Partnering for healthy forests
SRP has a goal to help strategically thin 800,000 of overgrown forests by 2035. To achieve this goal, SRP partners with federal and state agencies, local governments, non-profits, and businesses to collaboratively fund and implement forest thinning projects to protect Arizona’s water supply.
In fact, you can help us with this effort through the Healthy Forest Initiative™.
Tidying up our forests help:
- Avoid tragic wildfires
- Guard the Valley’s water supply
- Restore Arizona’s ponderosa pines
Stay afloat on the watershed
If you’re planning a trip to Arizona’s great outdoors or just want to keep an eye on the state of water in Arizona, you can visit WatershedConnection.com.
There you can check lake levels, river flow data, interactive maps and daily water reports for lakes in the Salt and Verde river systems. The site also has more information on SRP watershed projects from Phoenix to Payson, Prescott and beyond. We’re committed to communities near and far.
Exactly where can I fish the canals. Is there specific locations
Jeremy, you are able to fish anywhere in the canal system that is not blocked off for current maintenance activities. Please see this site: https://www.srpnet.com/grid-water-management/water-recreation/canal-trails/fishing for more information on fishing in SRP-managed canals.