Like all rivers across the US, the Salt River is
unique. It's beauty and grandeur are partly a result of it's location
on the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. The Salt
River is home to a large number of plants, animals and bird life.
It offers an outstanding adventure opportunity with world class
rapids and stunning scenery. The Salt River Canyon is truly one
of the southwest's hidden treasures.
Salt River Geography
The natural flow of the Salt is 86.1 m³/s (3040
ft³/s) at its mouth, almost four times that of the Rio Grande
River. The Salt River flows northwest through Salt River Canyon,
then southwest and west through the Tonto National Forest. The river
is formed in eastern Arizona, by the confluence (or coming together)
of the White and Black rivers. The river acts as a natural boundary
between the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to the north and the
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation to the south.
The Salt River passes through a large valley between
the Mazatzal Mountains and Superstition Mountains. The river drains
into several reservoirs: Lake Roosevelt (formed by Roosevelt Dam),
Apache Lake (Horse Mesa Dam), Canyon Lake (Mormon Flat Dam), and
Saguaro Lake (Stewart Mountain Dam). The Verde river joins with
the Salt river just south of this point. About five miles downstream,
the Granite Reef Diversion Dam diverts all the remaining reservoir
water into the Arizona and South canals. The water that comes from
these reservoirs provide drinking and irrigations water for the
Phoenix area.
The Salt Riverbed leaves the mountains and runs
through various cities in Arizona: Mesa, Tempe, and Scottsdale,
south of downtown Phoenix and then passing north of South Mountain
Park. Keep in mind that is only the riverbed- and it stays dry during
most of the year. Only when heavy rains and torrential downpours
occur in Arizona will the Salt River run in these areas. When this
happens, Stewart Mountain Dam will release extra water causing a
rise in the water levels along the river. Flash floods occasionally
occur in these areas during monsoon storms in late July and early
August.
Salt River History
The river was originally used for irrigation by
Native Americans. In 1929 Omar Turney did research work on the Salt
River and the system as it was used anciently. According to Omar,
the irrigation system "encompassed the largest single body
of land irrigated in prehistoric times in North or South America,
and perhaps the world. As seen by the map recreation on the left,
the Salt River provided extensive drainage far inland for a large
area of land. Mesa Grande is the modern day area of Mesa, AZ, with
the river running down toward the Phoenix region.
It is currently still used as a primary irrigation
source. Phoenix and surrounding areas use the river for their needs
through the Salt River Irrigation Project.
The river's water is currently distributed over
more than 1,000 mi (1,609 km) of irrigation canals. These canals
are used primarily for agriculture: the growing of cotton, alfalfa,
fruit, and vegetables.
The regions that surround the Salt River are victim
to occasional flash floods from heavy rainfall. The dry, hot desert
geography of Arizona gives way to perfect flooding conditions. These
floods can rise in a matter of minutes, without warning. They can
cause damage to roads, bridges, parks, commercial and residential
lands. The most notable flash floods that caused damage were in
1980, 1993 and 2005. However, except during floods, the Salt is
dry below Granite Reef Dam. Previously you could navigate the Salt
Rive in its entirety throughout the southern course by small raft.
The river is still navigable in the majority of the area where it
still carries a significant flow, but some areas now do not have
high enough water levels.
Salt RiverWhiteWaterRiver Rafting and Recreation
The huge volume and rocky underground provide ideal
conditions for recreational and adventure activities on the Salt
River. The most popular of which is white water rafting. Many companies
operate seasonal trips on the Salt River. Rafting trips vary depending
on the section of river you choose to navigate and the time of year
you go.
The Salt River is a class III and IV whitewater
river that drops an average 25 feet per mile for over 50 miles through
rocky, inaccessible canyons. It flows through oak and juniper woodlands
down into striking Lower Sonoran desert. Amazing vegetation, giant
multi-armed saguaro cactus and profusions of cactus of everywhere
adorn the whitewater trip down the river. Several side canyons reveal
oasis-like microhabitats that are a moist reprieve from the prickly
cactus environment. Excellent scenic riverside campsites are abundant
and accessible only by raft.
The Salt River white water rafting season goes from
early March to late May. Because of the exciting and intense rapids
during early run-off, whitewater rafting and kayaking are the main
forms of recreation on the river. You can find outfitter information,
rafting trips and contact info at Rafting America.
Ryan Hutchings is the Executive Director for the
leading organization of white water rafting outfitters across North
America Rafting America (http://www.raftingamerica.com). He has
extensive involvement with outfitters and the river rafting industry
across the US, Canada and South America. Ryan specializes in internet
marketing and online business strategy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_W._Hutchings
