SRP, Reclamation partnership turns 100

1917 operating agreement helped shape Arizona and the West

November 30, 2017

One hundred years ago, the dams and canals that constituted the Salt River Project became the first federal reclamation project turned over to a private entity for day-to-day operations and by doing so, also helped protect the vital Salt and Verde River watersheds.

The unprecedented public-private partnership between SRP and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation formed the cornerstone of SRP's dependable water supply and made it possible to settle and develop the Valley of the Sun into the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the country.

A healthy water supply starts with a healthy watershed. Today SRP works with many diverse groups to better understand and improve the health of forests, rivers and the broader ecosystem.

SRP's partnerships include federal and state agencies, businesses, conservation and environmental groups, scientists, farmers, ranchers, and others.

Like the successful partnership between SRP and the United States, SRP's partnerships with watershed stakeholders are crucial to protecting these resources for the next 100 years.

Additional information about this partnership is available in the press release.