How SRP Measures Water Coming Into the Valley

Why a 650-pound flume in the forest matters for millions in Arizona

Read Time: 3 Min.

Tags:  #SRPWatershed #AZWaterFacts #SRPScience #VerdeRiver #SRP2026

At over 13,000 square miles, SRP’s watershed system is vast - and measuring how much water it brings into the Valley is essential. That’s why SRP hydrologists recently installed a 650-pound flume in the Verde River watershed - a first-of-its-kind project designed to measure how much water is flowing from Arizona’s mountain streams into our critical reservoirs. These reservoirs supply water to over 2.5 million people in the Phoenix area.

Visual created with the help of Bing Image AI.

But why does this flume matter?In short: You can’t manage what you don’t measure.Arizona’s weather is changing - with one winter delivering record snowpack, and the next one bringing extreme drought. SRP uses cutting-edge tools like this flume to make sure they can track exactly how much water is making it from the mountains to the Valley. The new device includes a heater to melt snow and ice and can withstand freeze-thaw cycles, helping engineers collect more accurate data all year long.

This isn’t just science - it’s protection.By working with Arizona State University graduate students, SRP is also using this data to study the effects of forest thinning - a land management strategy that can improve water yield and reduce wildfire risk. The results of this research could shape how future restoration projects are managed across Arizona.

And yes, it was delivered by helicopter.

Because the location was so remote, the entire flume - which measures more than 10 feet wide - had to be flown in and lowered to the site by air. It’s now stationed to monitor water flowing from Sycamore Creek, into the Verde River, and eventually to the Valley.

Takeaway:

SRP’s work behind the scenes - from forest science to water tracking - ensures that Arizona’s future remains secure and sustainable.

Want to learn more about how it all works?

[🔗 Full Story from SRP | 🧠 More Water Facts | 💧 Meet the Team Behind the Mission]