Salt River Project reservoirs gain 120 billion gallons from historic rainfall

Salt River Project (SRP) reported that recent storms in central Arizona added approximately 370,000 acre-feet of water to its reservoir system. Reservoir storage levels rose from 53% capacity on November 1 to 70% by November 6.

Inflows into the Salt and Verde watersheds during October and November reached approximately eight times the historical average. At peak levels, inflows into Roosevelt Lake reached a combined rate of approximately 145,000 cubic feet per second. This influx provides a significant boost to the water supply for the Phoenix metropolitan area following years of below-average runoff.

To manage the sudden surge and protect infrastructure, SRP conducted controlled water releases. While inflows have since slowed and releases have returned to normal operating ranges, some roads in the Salt River riverbed may remain closed due to flooding concerns. Officials noted that while this is a major improvement for the Salt and Verde system, it does not resolve broader long-term drought challenges facing the Colorado River system.