Phoenix Area Office - Programs & Activities

Verde Reservoirs Sediment Mitigation Project (VRSMP)

The VRSMP feasibility study was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Over the next several years, a feasibility study will be conducted to analyze options to address the problem of sediment accumulation and loss of storage capacity in the Verde River reservoirs of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project, located in central Arizona. The results of the feasibility study, which includes an environmental review and financial analysis, will be used to make recommendations to the U.S. Congress on the best approach to address the problem.

Background

The Salt River Federal Reclamation Project (SRFRP) is located near Phoenix in central Arizona. It is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation and operated as transferred works by the Salt River Project (SRP). As the Project operator, SRP is responsible for care, operation, and maintenance of the system. The water stored by the SRFRP provides approximately 40 percent of the municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supply to the Phoenix metropolitan area. The SRFRP includes six dams and reservoirs on the Salt and Verde rivers, as well as one on East Clear Creek. There are two reservoirs on the Verde River: Horseshoe Reservoir, which is formed by Horseshoe Dam; and Bartlett Reservoir, which is formed by Bartlett Dam.

Horseshoe Reservoir is the upstream reservoir on the Verde River and therefore accumulates most of the sediment in the system. Horseshoe Dam and reservoir was initially put into operation in 1946 with a total capacity of 66,735 acre-feet. In 1949, flood gates were added to Horseshoe Dam through a joint project between City of Phoenix (Phoenix) and Salt River Project (SRP), increasing the total reservoir capacity to 144,030 acre-feet. The most recent sedimentation survey conducted by SRP in 2012 estimates approximately 46,000 acre-feet of sediment accumulation within the reservoir, reducing the effective capacity of the reservoir to approximately 98,000 acre-fee—a reduction of 32% of total storage capacity.

Purpose of the VRSMP

The VRSMP will evaluate alternatives to restore lost capacity at Horseshoe Reservoir on the SRFRP system and examine opportunities to create additional benefits through actions to resolve the sedimentation problems.

In September 2020, the Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with SRP, began the Verde Reservoirs Sediment Mitigation Study (VRSMS). The purpose of the study was to conduct an appraisal level investigation of the sediment accumulation and subsequent reduced storage capacity in the Verde River reservoir system and how to restore the lost capacity and mitigate future sediment accumulation.

The VRSMS was completed December 2021 and the final appraisal report is available at the following link: Verde Reservoirs Sediment Mitigation Study Appraisal Report (usbr.gov)

Problems, Needs and Opportunities of Feasibility Study

Problem:

Lost capacity due to sedimentation

Future sediment accumulations

Reduced water supply resiliency

Need:

Restore lost capacity

Manage future sediment loadings

Increase surface water yield

Opportunity:

Potential to benefit users beyond original SRFRP beneficiaries and the City of Phoenix through additional water supply, flood control, dam safety, recreation, hydropower, and environmental benefits in furtherance of the Federal Objective and Guiding Principles

Contact Us

For additional questions or information about the Verde Reservoirs Sediment Mitigation Project, please email VRSMP@usbr.gov

If you would like to be added to the Email List to receive notifications and updates on the proposed actions, please email VRSMP@usbr.gov with subject line "Add me to Email List".

Stakeholder Meetings

Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m (MST)

Agenda

Presentation

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Salt River Project (SRP)

SRP is working with the Bureau of Reclamation and other partners to find cost-effective solutions that would restore lost water storage capacity at Horseshoe Reservoir while also adding additional capacity for future use.

For more information on SRP recommendations please visit:
Bartlett Dam and Reservoir Expansion Project | SRP (srpnet.com)