Above the shimmering waters of Salt River Project’s Granite Reef Diversion Dam, a scenic view of Red Mountain is on full display, but below the surface, a dirty problem grows. As the key piece of infrastructure diverts water from the Verde and Salt Rivers into the region’s canal system, sand and sediment continually build up until they spill into the canals. SRP now has a new tool for cleaning the dam: a state-of-the-art dredge to suck up the piles of sand. The dredge acts like a pool cleaner, stirring up the underwater sediment before vacuuming it to the surface. By removing the sediment, the dredge ensures that water can be delivered cleanly and efficiently into SRP’s canals, which provide water to about 2.5 million Phoenix-area residents. Without removal, the sediment can spill into the canals, increasing water treatment costs and leading to canal closures.

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• Arizona Republic (Phoenix): Photos: SRP’s new dredge cleans Granite Reef Dam, allowing efficient water flow into the Valley