Granite Reef Diversion Dam
Encyclopedia
The Granite Reef Diversion Dam is a concrete diversion dam
located 22 miles (35.4 km) Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona
, on the Salt River
. The dam is 1000 feet (304.8 m) long, 29 feet (8.8 m) high and was built between 1906-09 for the Salt River Project, who currently operates the dam.
The dam diverts most all water in the Salt River into the Arizona and Eastern Canals serving the metro Phoenix area with irrigation and drinking water. The Salt River below Granite Reef is usually dry except following consistent and heavy upstream precipitation. When upstream lakes are full, minor and moderate releases are accomplished via floodgates at either end of the dam. The dam is designed to be overtopped by major releases, which can occur every 10 to 40 years.
Diversion dam
A diversion dam is the term for a dam that diverts all or a portion of the flow of a river from its natural course. Diversion dams do not generally impound water in a reservoir...
located 22 miles (35.4 km) Northeast of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, on the Salt River
Salt River (Arizona)
The Salt River is a stream in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest tributary of the Gila River. The river is about long. Its drainage basin is about large. The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the Verde River...
. The dam is 1000 feet (304.8 m) long, 29 feet (8.8 m) high and was built between 1906-09 for the Salt River Project, who currently operates the dam.
The dam diverts most all water in the Salt River into the Arizona and Eastern Canals serving the metro Phoenix area with irrigation and drinking water. The Salt River below Granite Reef is usually dry except following consistent and heavy upstream precipitation. When upstream lakes are full, minor and moderate releases are accomplished via floodgates at either end of the dam. The dam is designed to be overtopped by major releases, which can occur every 10 to 40 years.