SALT RIVER PROJECT AND THE IN THE SOUTHWEST

SALT RIVER PROJECT AND THE

THREAT OF MUSSEL INVASION

IN THE SOUTHWEST

Lesly Swanson, Senior Environmental Scientist

Outline

What is SRP?

Threat of Quagga Mussel Infestation

Future Efforts

Salt River Valley Water Users

Association (Water)

Established 1903

A Federal Reclamation Project

Private Corporation

Agent for Shareholders

SRP Agricultural Improvement and

Power District (Power)

Established 1937 as a Political

Subdivision of Arizona

Over 35,500 million kWh sold

Property title holder

Salt River Project

KEY MAP

Verde River

Watershed

SRVWUA

VERDE RIVER

WATERSHED

SALT RIVER

WATERSHED

Sedona

Globe

Show Low

Alpine

Williams Flagstaff

Payson

Prescott Camp Verde

Phoenix

C.C. Cragin Dam

EAST CLEAR CREEK

WATERSHED

E. Clear Creek

Watershed

Salt River

Watershed

SALT RIVER

WATERSHED VERDE RIVER

WATERSHED

SRV

WUA

Agua F

ria

EAST CLEAR CREEK

WATERSHED

SRP Watershed

Water Storage & Delivery

Maintains and operates water delivery system

Six dams on Salt and Verde Rivers

C.C. Cragin Reservoir on Mogollon Rim

Delivers 1 million acre feet of water annually

133 miles of main canals

1,132 miles of laterals and ditches

375 square mile water service area

250 high capacity wells

VERDE CONSERVATION

STORAGE:

302,403 AF

SALT CONSERVATION

STORAGE:

2,025,798 AF

2026’

1798’

1529’

1914’

Horseshoe Dam

Stewart Mountain

Dam

Roosevelt Dam

Bartlett Dam

Mormon Flat Dam

Horse Mesa Dam

Total Conservation Storage: 2,328,201 AF

Horseshoe 109,217 AF

Bartlett 178,186 AF

Saguaro Lake 69,765 AF

Canyon Lake 57,852 AF

Apache Lake 245,138 AF

Roosevelt Lake

1,653,043 AF

1660.5’

2218’ Top of Safety of Dams

2151’ Top of Conservation

01/09/07 REF/SVRSCIAF-6

C.C. Cragin Dam

6720’

C.C. Cragin 15,000 AF

East Clear Creek

Storage:

15,000 AF

Verde River

Storage:

287,403 AF

2100’ -

6720’ -

- 2000’

1506’ -

1610.5’ -

- 1748’

1891’ -

SRP Reservoir System

Electricity provided by coal, natural gas and hydro

generation

Provides electricity to 2,900 square miles in

Phoenix area

950,000 electric customers

Electrical Supply

Three facilities with direct surface water

connections at risk

Desert Basin Generating Station- Casa Grande

Santan Generating Station- Phoenix/Gilbert

Navajo Generating Station- Page/Lake Powell

Three low-flow hydro facilities on canals

South Consolidated Generating Station- Mesa

Arizona Falls Generating Station- Scottsdale

Crosscut Generating Station- Tempe

Electrical Supply

Adults found on sampling block at SRP/CAP

interconnect- Oct. 2008

11 adults total on two separate days

Evidence of adult movement

Adults found in siphon at SRP/CAP interconnect

under Salt River- Jan. 2009

Approximately 2,500-3,000 adults- all removed

Adults found in CAP siphon tubes- Jun. 2009

Densities of 110-150 per square yard

SRP Quagga Update

CAP/SRP Interconnect

Mussels on Radial Gate

Mussels on Radial Gate

Mussels in CAP Siphon Tube

Basic chemistry Salt and Verde watersheds and

canals sufficient to support high infestation levels

of dressenids

Closest known infestation to Phoenix Area- Lake

Pleasant

Lake Powell at risk

Water chemistry similar to other Colorado River

Reservoirs

Upstream and downstream infestations

Threat of Infestation

Continue Monthly Reservoir Monitoring

Continue Canal Monitoring

Develop Facility Specific Response Plans

Coordinate in State and Region Wide Efforts

Outreach and Education

Remain Involved in Research Developments

Future Efforts

CONTACT INFO: Lesly Swanson, Senior Environmental Scientist

(602) 236-2893

[email protected]

QUESTIONS