SRP water release at Granite Reef Dam likely to cause flooding, road closures

PHOENIX — Some Mesa roads will be closed due to flooding this weekend after the Salt River Project releases water from the Granite Reef Dam, SRP said in a statement.

Water is expected to reach Gilbert and McKellips Roads by Saturday. Roads in that area will be closed.

SRP warned residents to avoid flooded areas. There is potential for strong currents and debris in the water.

On Friday, the amount of water being released from Granite Reef Dam increased by about 650%.

This release is due to the amount of ran and snowfall over autumn and winter, as well as this being the wettest month of March since 1992.

The Salt River and Verde River systems are 94% filled, up from 75% at this time a year ago.

With those reservoirs nearing capacity, they are expected to need more room to catch future runoff as the weather heats up.

Precipitation in the fall and winter created “nearly perfect conditions for the watershed to generate abundant runoff,” SRP said in the statement.

The organization expects added runoff to reach the rivers in the near future.

Bartlett Lake and Horseshoe Lake are projected to reach capacity soon, and Roosevelt Lake is 92% filled and expected to run out of room in early spring.

It has been a decade since since the Salt River Reservoir system was filled to capacity, SRP said in the statement.

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