Salt River Project (SRP) has installed a 650-pound hydrologic flume in the Verde River watershed to improve measurement of water flowing into the Valley. The new device, which is made of aluminum and measures about 10.5 feet by nine feet, was modified by SRP engineers and welders to include an add-on heater. This heater will help melt snow and ice during winter and spring freeze-thaw cycles, ensuring more accurate water flow readings.
The installation process required the flume to be hoisted by helicopter due to the remote location that is nearly inaccessible by ground. This marks the first time SRP has used such a device in its operations. Hydrologists plan to monitor its performance closely to determine if similar installations can be replicated elsewhere within SRP’s 13,000 square mile watershed.
This effort comes after recent climate variability affected local water supplies. A productive winter in 2023 was followed by a record dry runoff season last winter, highlighting how changing weather patterns can impact reservoirs serving over 2.5 million residents in the Valley.
“You can’t manage water if you don’t measure it,” said Zac Keller, Hydrographic Scientist, Water Measurement. “By managing it successfully, SRP is able to better respond to whatever the weather patterns bring to this area. Thanks to SRP’s water management, the reservoir system is in good shape.”
SRP continues to use various methods for monitoring inflows from both Salt and Verde rivers’ watersheds as part of its broader strategy for reliable water delivery.
