SRP announces canal cleaning closures and new method of excavating

PHOENIX — Salt River Project (SRP) announced that the Tempe Canal and the Western Canal will be closed for clean ups and repairs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.

The utility organization said in a release that this year they will be using an excavator called the Menzi Muck, which can climb in and out of the canal without the use of ramps and maneuver through six feet of water.

The organization does dry up cleanings on a rotating, 10 year schedule to different portions of the canals.

It starts by catching and herding the white amur fish to different portions of the canal so that crews can then inspect the canal structure, remove silt build up, replace concrete walls and fix the canal gates.

Where are the canal closures going to take place?

The Tempe Canal will be closed from the intersection of Alma School Road and Bass Pro Drive to Dobson and University roads.

It will also be closed from Broadway Road and the Loop 101 Price Freeway to the intersection of Southern and Dobson roads.

The Western Canal will be closed from Loop 101 between Elliot and Guadeloupe roads to Rural Road.

Overall, the closures cover between seven to eight miles of the 131 miles of canals managed by SRP.

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