Living through drought

Editorial authored by Charlie Ester III, Director of Water Supply at SRP 

I will never forget the moment I stepped off a helicopter and onto the dry lakebed of Roosevelt Lake, less than one decade into our current drought in 2002. Unbelievably, a few years before that, and in “wet” years to come, the lake’s water level would be 50 feet above my head.  

Since then, wet winters have abundantly refilled the largest lake in the SRP system, but drought continues to prevail in Arizona.   

Because more than 3 million residents depend on our water supply to live, work and play in the Valley, many have questions about the lack of rainfall and how it affects our lives.    

What is drought?

Deserts are landscapes of sparse vegetation, extreme heat and low rainfall. Drought occurs when the small amount of expected rainfall is dramatically reduced.  

Drought is defined as a period of time with reduced precipitation. Meteorologists determine drought based on rainfall, soil conditions and streamflow.  

If I hadn’t told you the Valley was currently in an extreme drought, would you have guessed it? According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona has experienced three severe droughts in the last 120 years — one in the early 1900s, one in the 1950s and the current 24-year drought.  

Impacts of drought 

The impacts of drought can be immediate. Thankfully, our water storage system, dams and robust water management plans lessen the impact on residents. We make the most out of our wet years by storing water for the dry years.   

A century ago, the Phoenix area was mostly farmland. When a drought occurred, crops withered and died. Often, farmers lost everything but could regrow crops and make profits with the next season.   

A drought today has far more lasting impacts than ever before. It requires more significant planning to supply water for residents year after year.    

How SRP plans for drought in the desert 

The Phoenix metropolitan area is well-positioned to survive extended droughts. This is due to the water supply from SRP, proactive planning and the Central Arizona Project (CAP). We assume every year is the beginning of the next drought period.   

In fact, SRP manages surface water and groundwater to last through 11 continuous dry years! Combine that planning and commitment to water conservation from SRP, its customers and our water partners across the state and supplies can stretch even further. This is how we make the most out of every drop. 

SRP’s robust water system does not rely on just our seven reservoirs. It includes the flexibility to pull from an extensive network of groundwater wells. When necessary, SRP can supplement our surface water from the Salt and Verde reservoirs with groundwater pumped from our 270 wells in the Valley.  

This can supply about 50% of the water SRP delivers during a drought year. We also work with many partners to restore groundwater levels so that when needed, the resource is available.   

Reducing drought risks 

During severely dry conditions, SRP implements methods such as increasing groundwater pumping to maintain the necessary supply to our customers. We can then return to reduced pumping when Arizona experiences a wet winter. This exact pattern was the case from the years 2021 to 2023. SRP’s water supplies are just one part of the region’s water mix.

To plan for the region’s future water needs, we work closely with:  

• Valley municipalities
• The Central Arizona Project (CAP)
• Tribal nations
• The Arizona Department of Water Resources

Research informs our future

At SRP, our meteorologists and hydrologists are conducting research with scientists from Arizona universities. Doing so allows us to understand different climate models around the world which helps us make better predictions for our unique climate in Arizona. 

Climate models are important because they predict what changes may affect Arizona over the next 50 or more years. Among the models, the main theme is that we will be getting warmer.  

When it comes to precipitation and the future, Arizona will likely see repeated droughts and wet spells. That sounds a lot like our past. SRP is prepared to supply the necessary water resources for our vibrant area.

Planning for the future 

Learn more about how SRP is conserving water.