{"id":5379,"date":"2022-02-13T09:04:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T16:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/srpnet.wpengine.com\/?p=5379"},"modified":"2022-02-14T14:21:34","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T21:21:34","slug":"arizona-statehood-and-srp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.srpnet.com\/es\/arizona-statehood-and-srp\/","title":{"rendered":"A love story for the ages: How Arizona statehood and SRP go hand-in-hand"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each year, Valentine\u2019s Day marks another reason to celebrate Arizona Statehood. That’s right: Arizona’s birthday happens to fall on Valentine\u2019s Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The road to becoming a state was a long one for the Grand Canyon State, which spent nearly 50 years as a U.S. territory. President William Howard Taft admitted Arizona to the Union on Feb. 14, 1912. The Salt River Project (SRP) and the construction of a large storage dam in the Tonto Basin played a vital role in paving the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labor of love: bringing water to a growing population<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nearly a decade prior to Arizona statehood, the Salt River Valley Water Users\u2019 Association formed in 1903. Made up of landowners and farmers living in the Salt River Valley area, the association was created after President Theodore Roosevelt signed the National Reclamation Act into law in 1902. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Reclamation Act funded projects via government loans, and it helped growing populations bring water from natural sources. Alas, SRP was chosen as one of the first five of these federal reclamation projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: Check out a recent video from a spillway test at Roosevelt Dam.<\/a> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Helping to build Arizona’s future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Around this time, the need to store water from the Salt River was becoming more important. Settlers in the Valley had discussed it for many years leading up to the turn of the century. With the money from the Reclamation Act, that long-awaited dream became a reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A complex system of man-made waterways, or canals,<\/a> was already present in the Valley. Therefore, the completion of the dam was the \u201cmissing piece\u201d for the growing region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over the next several years, the construction of the dam took place. It was dedicated in 1911 and named Theodore Roosevelt Dam.<\/a> This was to honor the president who had brought reclamation to the West on a grand scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortly after, the dusty town we now call Phoenix started to develop into a bustling metropolis. Roosevelt Dam also provided better protection from destructive flooding of the Salt River. As the area grew for both farming and business, stability and evolution were key for the soon-to-be state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lasting impact on Arizona statehood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The completion of the dam was so important to Arizonans, it made its way into the design of the state\u2019s Great Seal<\/a>. A dam and storage reservoir are central on the seal, accompanied by representations of the state\u2019s \u201cfive C\u2019s\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are Arizona’s 5 C’s and how do they show on the seal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n