My family visited a fascinating spot in Phoenix called Arizona Falls. It is the first hydroelectric power generating station in Phoenix. Arizona Falls makes electricity from the power of water falling and spinning a turbine.
Our water comes from melting snow in the mountains, which goes into streams and lakes of the Salt River. Lakes were created from the damns SRP built along the Salt River to prevent flooding. The dams also create energy, and most importantly keep our water supply full.
I learned the Hohokam dug canals by hand more than 2,000 years ago. In 1902, Mr. Willam John Murphy found an existing rock on the canal that had a 20-foot drop. He built a small turbine to create Arizona Falls hydro-facility and provide electricity. Arizona Falls was a popular spot for picnics and swimming. It was used as a landmark for directions before there were street names. Arizona Falls closed in the 1950s because it got expensive to keep running. Arizona Falls was reopened in 2003 with support from the City of Phoenix, Phoenix Arts Commission, Water Services, Parks & Rec, SRP, the Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation, and a team of artists. They did a great job rebuilding Arizona Falls and adding artwork.
I liked their display of boulders from each of the five SRP dam sites (Theodore Roosevelt Dam, Horse Mesa Dam, Mormon Flat Dam, Stewart Mountain Dam and Granite Reef Diversion Dam). There is also poetry from Arizona’s first state poet Laureate, Alberto Rios, engraved in the stone.
Arizona Falls creates electricity for 150 homes. Solar panels on the roof take the sunlight and turn it into even more electricity. Arizona Falls helps SRP make electricity for Phoenix without harming the environment. I also learned that SRP used to clean water canals by hand and horse drawn machines. Now they use white armur fish to keep the canals clean just like the Egyptians used for the Nile River. The fish eat up all the algae and weeds to keep canals clean without chemicals.
Arizona Falls was a fun spot for lunch. It was fun listening to the rushing water. You can visit Arizona Falls at 5802 E Indian School, between 56th and 58th Street in Arcadia. There is also information online at azfalls.com . Thank you to Ileen Snoddy, SRP’s Sr Curator, Research Archives & Heritage, for letting me interview her and learn even more about the history of Arizona Falls and SRP’s dams.
PHOTO: SRP.net
