WeatherThursday, November 5
Tempe Town Lake is a rushing river after the biggest Salt and Verde flood since 1993
The Good Day Gilbert team
Tempe Town Lake is running like a river. Weekend rain pushed SRP's reservoirs above capacity, so SRP raised releases from the Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams. The city closed lake access.
54,000 cfsreleased from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams
That's about 403,000 gallons per second, according to SRP.
Source: AZ Family
SRP says the flood is the biggest on the Salt and Verde rivers since 1993. Flows are falling, but there's no date for boaters to return. SRP senior hydrologist Jacob Richardson said he was told the rainfall had about a once-in-150-years probability.
- Verde watershed inflows: SRP expects about eight times average for October and November
- Releases: over 100 times greater than daily averages
- Some roads in the normally dry Salt River bed will be closed as water flows downstream
The flood built over a few days and is now easing
- Nov. 2SRP increases releases from Bartlett and Stewart Mountain dams.
- Nov. 2Released water is expected to reach the Valley by 6 p.m.
- Nov. 4Flows are falling, with no date set for boaters to return.
For wildlife, local experts said the effects are a mixed bag. Native coyote willow and Goodding's willow bend under sudden floods, then pop back up.