Opinion: SRP is helping thin Arizona forests. Our water supply depends on it
Over the last 10 years, we have watched as large wildfires ravaged the watershed in and around the Salt and Verde Rivers. The devastation proves one important fact that must be addressed now – our forests are unhealthy. SRP manages the water supply for much of the Valley – most of which comes from 8.3 million acres of land in northern Arizona. Snowfall and rain provide the water that travels through the watershed into SRP reservoirs, which is then delivered to homes and businesses via canals. The forested lands that harness this precious resource have been hit by devastating wildfires and are primed for more infernos like those that impacted California and Colorado.
-Written by Elvy Barton, a forest health management principal who leads Salt River Project’s forest restoration partnerships, programs and policy analysis initiatives.