WaterSunday, November 8
SRP's reservoirs climbed from 53% to 70% full as the storms sent in 120 billion gallons
The Good Day Gilbert team
The deadly storms left some good news in the reservoirs. SRP says its system rose from 53% full on Nov. 1 to 70% by Nov. 6, with record October and November inflows after three years of low runoff. It also had to let water go. SRP's Bo Svoma said, "We had to release it so that water didn't go over the top."
SRP's reservoir system was 70% full by Nov. 6
70%SRP's reservoir system on Nov. 6
Source: AZ Family
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| SRP's reservoir system on Nov. 6 | 70% |
| Nov. 1 | 53% |
At Tempe Town Lake, the city says the flood is the biggest on the Salt and Verde rivers since 1993. It eroded several feet of sand from Boat Beach and pushed bacteria above acceptable thresholds. We suggest keeping people and dogs out of the water.
The flood broke records on the Salt and Verde
- 120 billion
- gallons that flowed into SRP reservoirs
- About 8 times
- average inflows lately on the Salt and Verde watershed
- 1993
- the last time a flood this big hit the Salt and Verde
Sources: AZ Family, FOX 10 Phoenix
- Questions: Tempe 311 at 480-350-4311
- Still open: walking and biking by the lake
- Closed: boating, fishing and boat rentals
Much of the river water heads toward Painted Rock Reservoir near Gila Bend, a flood-control facility that's typically dry. SRP and its partners are also studying a project to raise Bartlett Dam on the Verde River.