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XUS L2 S15 944 A77 flOG TJ4ESAtT RIVER PROJECT OF ARIZONA EEE IR1Z, C0.DOc I )CUSt2 AISO4I 42J1'-3 S /riqq k S .5 .. .. -S- -..-. IIDENTICAL WITH THE SALT RIVER PROJECT AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT AND POWER DI OPERATED BY THE SALT RIVER VALLEY WATER USER'S ASSOCIATION ROOSEVELT DAM Built 1905-1 1, Addns. 1923-24 - Spiliways lowered 1937 ev. Coping 2,146 Max. Thickness, base, ft 184 Lake Cap'y, Jan. '39, ac-ft1,400,000 ormal High Water elev 2,136 Thickness at top, ft 16 Lake Area, acres 17,800 illway crest elev 2,120.25 Cu. Yard Masonry 343,750 Lake Length, miles 23 .'ngth, darn proper, ft 723 Drainage Area, sq. mi 5,830 Head on turbines, ft 112-222 it. bedrock to roadway, ft 280 Spiliway Cap y., sec-ft 150,000 Generating Cap'y., H.P 24,000 Cost, dam and power plant $5,560,000 PROJECT HISTORY A large part of the Salt River Valley wa cultivated in prehistoric times, but abandoned long before the coming of the white man. Many interesting remains of the ancient villages and canals still exist. "A larger rural population tilled the fields of this valley before the commencement of the Christian Era than farm its lands today.Through climatic change and channel erosion the Canal Builders were compelled to relinquish their domain . These were theOriginal Engineers,the true Pioneers, the feats performed with the Stone Axe and the Stone Hoe demanded as lofty purpose and high courage as those created with later day devices." (Dr. Turney 1924) Irrigation by whitesettlers began about 1867.The river flow is eratic, varying from a small stream to enormous floods.The supply at low river stage was inadequate for the land in cultivation, and the flows in excess of immediate needs or canal capacities were lost, due tolack ofstoragefacilities. In 1902 Congress passed the Reclamation Act and under it the Government financed and built Roosevelt Dam, which created storage and regulationfor the waters of Salt River.The Dam was placedin service in1910, and completed in1911, To efficiently divert the water from the River into the canals and todistributeitto the lands required a permanent diversion dam and a complete system of canals and laterals.These were included in the Government work, and a supplemental water supply was also made available from pumping plants tapping the underground water. A hydro-electric generating plant at Roosevelt Dam and four others at drops in the main canals, together with the necessary trans- mission lines, were constructed in order to supply power for pumping and other project operations. In November 1917, the Project was turned over as a going concern to the farmers, subject to payment of the unpaid balance on construction costs.The operation of the Project is handled by the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, a corporation comprised of the landowners holding one share for each acre of land owned.From 1922 to 1930 the Association built the Horse Mesa, Morman Flatand Stewart Mountain Dams, power plants on the Salt River below Roosevelt Dam, and the Cave Creek Flood Control Dam.In 1935-39 Bartlett Dam was constructed on the Verde River, and spiliway improvements to the four Salt River storage dams were made by the United States Bureau of Reclamation.In 1937-38 the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association built a 13,500 HP Diesel Power Plant to supplement itsgen- eratingfacilities. In1940 power from the Colcraco Rv-oL became available through construction by the United States Bureau of ReclamatioH f J4& iul'e. kiigJi tnscrj power line from Parker Dam to Phoenix.During 1941 a standby fthliint of 3?500 l-jP capacft constructed at a cost of over $2,000,000, to assure firm power'nd continued sev tó the Project ircase of failure of any ofthe hydro-electric units.The 8 hydro-e1&tjiç plants, together with, 'Diese1 and Steam Plants, have a combined generating capacity of 157 13 H Of the total $21,000,000 capital investment by the United States to June 1941, $12,000,000 has been repaid.The balance is payable under the Reclamation Act in small long-time installments. The remaining $22,000,000 ofcapital investment has be'n financed by the farmers through their Association without Government aid. The investment in irrigation, power and other works is around $43,000,000.Besides thefivelarge storage dams pictured and described here, there are three major diversion dams, 1,400 miles of canals and laterals with over 10,000 structures, 1,850 miles ofelectric power lineswith 27largesub-stations, 550 miles of telephone lines, 2 large warehouses, 3 office buildings, over 100 residences and 200 pumping plants.The normal force varies from 700 to 1,000 employees. kr!2.oYar / :... .. L_. PREHISTORIC IRRIGATION CANALS DL OMAR A.TURNEY FRO.R PBOE)IIX ARIZONA f 'L7 / PRESENT DAY CANAL SYSTEM p.i 155966 LETTUCE CROP CITRUS ORCHARD LOCATION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Salt River Project, covering the major portion of the Sail River Valley, is situated in the south central portion of Arizona.This fertile valley is approximately 20 miles wide and 50 miles long, with mountains rising abruptly from the plains on all sides, furnishing a colorful background.With a gradual rise to the mountains at the east, this level valley is an alluvial fill of several hundred feet in depth. The'annual rainfall varies from 3 to 20 inches, with an average of 7 inches.The,high percentage of sunshine (84%) gives the valley its well known sobriquet, "The Valley of The Sun."Every variety of climate, from sub-tropical in the Valley to cool temperate in the pine clad mountains, may be found vithin two hours drive of Phoenix.Summer days are hot, but nights are pleasant and the dry air adds greatly to ones comfort during the day.Practically all residences and business buildings are air-cooled. The mild winters favor thecultivation of citrus, winter vegetables, etc.Due to exceptional flying conditions, four large Military Air Fields have been located in the Valley for the training of Army Pilots. Phoenix owns its own municipal airport,"Sky Harbor," and has daily air mail and passenger service. The Project is served by the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads as well as numerous fast freight and bus lines. The 10,000 farms of the Salt River Project are all served with electric power, eitherdirectly from the project system or indirectly through municipalities and utility companies.There are 900 miles of surfaced highways within the Project boundaries (not counting towns and cities), half of which are con- crete or other hard paving.Farming is carried on throughout the entire 12 months, and supports a popula- tion in and adjacent to the Project of nearly 200,000.Pioneer days here are long past, and the communities are highly developed. The outstanding advantages offered to visitors and others are the resort features of climate and surroundings, pleasant living conditions (particularly for winter tourists and home seekers) and adaptability to citrus and other high-clashorticulture.Land values range from as low as $200 per acre up to $1,500 per acre, depending on location, crop and improvements.The land isall in private ownership and intensively cultivated. z S GRAN( CANYON ASH roRlc AGTA F F ci NGMAN0 WINS4.OW 0 4. ON LAPI 0 NEEOLE HOLeR00Ic 0 , . 7 JCROME 500 RINGS S. 13.000 SQ MILES OF 0 PR TTYØ WATERSHED IRV WHICH SUPPLIES THE PROJECT WITH WRTER FOR IRRIGATION 0 INC ILD$ 47/7 0PAY N Q PARIc(R SPR ING(RYILLCQ (001100 0 WCP(C NBURG WOR1AN C. RCNO o LI 9JE1T PARR5R C 4 7 BLYTHb CR N THE ROQ5VLLT SALT RIVER PROJ V,41 /2.1.14.JP. '' 0 Sc V//A PINAL RA POINT 0' PN( v1 S . R(LWIM FLoRENcE ) SAFFOROS .YLIMA 3 4 0 TUCSON SENSON 0 moc oC THE SALT RIVERPROJECT & WATERSHED ARI ZONA HORSE MESA DAM - ON SALT RIVER Built 1924-27. Addns to Spiliways 1936-37 Elev. Coping 1,920 Normal High Water elev 1,914 Spillway crest elev 1869.5-1891 Length, dam proper, ft 660 Ht. bedrock to deck, ft 300 Arch thickness, base, ft 57 Arch thickness, top, ft 8 Cu. Yds. Concrete , 159.000 Drainage Area, sq. mi 5,940 Spillway Cap'y, sec.-ft 150,000 Lake Cap'y. ac-ft 245,000 Lake Area, acres 2,600 Lake Length, miles 17 Head on turbines, ft 253.5 Generating Cap'y. H.P 43,000 Cost, dam and power plant $5,248,000 MORMON FLAT DAM - ON SALT RIVER Built 1923-25. Spiliway Altered 1936-38 Elev. Coping, 1,671 Normal High Water elev. 1,660.5 Spiliway crest, elev 1,610.5 Length, dam proper, ft 380 Ht., bedrock to deck, ft 224 Arch thickness, base, ft 20 Arch thickness, top, ft 8 Cu. Yds. Concrete 59,200 Drainage Area, sq. mi 6,100 Spillway Capy. sec.-ft 150,000 Lake Cap'y., ac-ft 57,800 Lake Area, acres 945 Lake Length, miles 10 Head on turbine 131.5 Generating Cap'y. H.P 10,000 Cost, dam and power plant $2,497,000 STEWART MOUNTAIN DAM - ON SALT RIVER Built 1928-30. Add'n. to Spillw'y Channel 1936-37 Elev. coping, 1,535 Normal High Water elev 1,529 Spillway crest elev 1,506 Length, dam proper, ft 1,260 Ht., bedrock to deck, ft 207 Arch thickness, base, ft 33 Arch thickness, top, ft 8 Cu. Yds. Concrete 131,730 Drainage Area, sq. mi 6,200 Spillway Cap'y.