TEMPE — Salt River Project is releasing about 54,000 cubic feet of water per second from its dams after weekend storms soaked the watershed, and Tempe Town Lake has closed to on-water recreation, according to Arizona’s Family and KTAR News.
The water is coming from Bartlett Dam on the Verde River and Stewart Mountain Dam on the Salt River, the reports said.
Inflows on the Verde River were the highest since 1972, roughly eight times the average, according to SRP.
‘The public is encouraged to observe any signage on road closures,’ said Tim Skarupa, SRP’s senior manager of atmospheric sciences and hydrology.
The released water flows down the Salt River channel through the Valley, which is why Tempe Town Lake is closed to boating and other on-water activities.
Officials urged people to stay out of the Salt River bed and away from fast-moving water while releases continue.
Sources: Arizona’s Family, KTAR News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Robert Simmon / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
