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Rio Salado UpdateAugust 1997 |
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Rio Salado UpdateAugust 1997 |
The following also is provided in Spanish. Lo siguiente también es provisto en Español .Last Modified on 03/06/2001 09:20:08
Dear Friend
Dear Friend
Several decades ago, the flowing Salt River was an integral part of Phoenix as it made its 16-mile journey through the heart of our city. Although today the river is dry and blighted, we have an opportunity to once again turn it back into a treasured community resource through the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project. I'd like to invite you to join us in that effort as a member of the Rio Salado Team.The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project (the city's current initiative to bring enough water into the Salt River to support native grasslands, trees and wildlife while preserving the rivers flood capacity) already has made significant progress. In partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, the city of Phoenix is planning a way to restore the river to create an environmental and recreational amenity for our community.
Our goal is to have this plan completed and revised in time to be funded through the 1998 Federal Water Resources Development Act. What's involved in being part of the Rio Salado Team? As a team member you will be kept up-to-date on the progress being made on the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project.
You then will be able to share this information with your friends, family and co-workers so they will understand the project's benefits. And, you will have the opportunity to express your support of the Rio Salado Project to our elected officials to help secure funding for the project. I invite you to take a moment to fill out the attached reply card and drop it in the mail to me.
We will keep you informed about the project and invite you to the special milestone events planned for the Rio Salado Team. If you would like to meet personally with our staff to discuss the project or be added to our mailing list, call Karen Williams in our Neighborhood Services Department at (602) 262-4717. Thank you for your interest and support.
Sincerely
Sheryl Sculley
Assistant City ManagerReturn to top of Rio Salado Update
What is the Rio Salado Project?
Imagine a river flowing through central Phoenix - where plants and wildlife flourish and people from different neighborhoods and backgrounds come together to hike, bicycle and renew their ties with nature. A place in the heart of the city where people can come to enjoy the beauty of nature for years to come.The Rio Salado Project is the plan that could restore the dry Salt River to this natural state. To accomplish this, water would be pumped from the layers of sand and gravel that lie under the length of the river. A low-flow channel would be build into the riverbed to carry a small, permanent stream of water as well as heavier storm flows.
Once restored, the river area would support native wildlife and plant life. Marshy wetlands, mesquite groves, woody shrubs, cottonwood and willow trees, and grasslands would line the channel and the banks. Trails for hiking, horseback riding and biking would be created, birds and animals would return to the area, and a revitalized river corridor once again will run through the city.
The proposed project area is a five-mile stretch of the Salt River from the I-10 bridge east of 24th Street to 19th Avenue on the west. It is anticipated that construction will begin in the year 2000 and that two-thirds of the estimated $50 million cost will be assumed by the federal government.
The Rio Salado Project represents a long-held vision of many Phoenicians - to turn the blighted Salt River into a community, environmental and recreational asset. A partnership between the city of Tempe, the Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Phoenix, the Rio Salado Project will bring enough water into the Salt River to support native shrubs and grasslands, trees and wildlife while preserving the river's flood capacity.
Our goal is to have this plan completed and reviewed in time to be funded through 1998 Federal Water Resources Development Act. This newsletter is to keep interested persons informed of the progress being made toward creating this plan and to encourage public participation in the plan's preparation.
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Questions and Answers About the Rio Salado Project
An important part of the Rio Salado planning process is finding out what Phoenix residents think about the project. City staff members have been meeting and talking with residents to learn what questions, opinions, ideas and concerns they have. This column will be devoted to answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the Rio Salado project.1. What happens to the neighborhoods/people who live along the Rio Salado?
A. The Rio Salado project will not be acquiring any residential property. However, improvements in the conditions in the riverbed could lead to changes in surrounding areas, including nearby neighborhoods. One of the purposes of making sure nearby residents and property owners are familiar with the plan for Rio Salado is that they will be better prepared to discuss the alternatives that will come up as proposals are made for property lying near the river.
2. Will a tax be imposed on residents for this project?
A. When Congress approves the Rio Salado, the Federal Government will pick up 65 percent of the cost of the project. We presently are exploring the best sources for the local 35 percent share, but have not made any decisions at this time.
3. How will the city prevent loitering and trespassing? Who will provide the security?
A. The Rio Salado will be managed by the Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department who will have maintenance and security staff on site to maintain the project. Other safety features will be included such as lighting along the banktop pathways.
4. How will we keep water in it and who will maintain the area?
A. The Salt River bed is very porous and could absorb water quickly when the project is first opened. To keep wetlands and water bodies operating, we are considering lining them with clay or synthetic liners to reduce this infiltration. In addition, tests have shown that silt and organic material quickly fill voids in the riverbed and naturally reduce infiltration. However, a percentage of the water used will percolate back into the shallow aquifer.
5. What will the quality of the water be?
A. The principal source of water for the project will be from wells drilled along the river. Much of that water is no longer of drinkable standards. We presently do not have a large amount of test data on this water. A part of the feasibility study and of the engineering design that will follow will be to either get specific water quality data or to drill test wells. The project then will be designed to either locate the wells in areas where water quality meets state and federal standards or to treat it so it does so.
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Timeline for the Water Resources Development Act
The Water Resources Development Act of WRDA is legislation passed typically every other year in Congress to authorize water resources development projects around the country. To be included in WRDA, projects normally must be studied by the Army Corps of Engineers and recommended to Congress for authorization based on a finding that the project is economically feasible and environmentally sound.The following is the anticipated timeline for the WRDA process as it relates to the Rio Salado Project.
November 1997 Public meeting on draft plan Spring 1998 Submission of request to Congress for inclusion in WRDA Bill May 1998 Corps of Army Engineers Headquarters approval of plan Spring 1998 Hearings on WRDA Bill Late Summer 1998 Congressional approval of WRDA Bill Return to top of Rio Salado Update
Water Supply for the Rio Salado
Two major issues have challenged the idea of a Rio Salado for many years: Where will the water come from and how do you handle the floods? This month we'll explore how water will be brought to the project and how that water will be used.Designed to be environmentally conscious, the Rio Salado habitat restoration project only will use water that is not used for municipal water supplies. This water will be pumped from shallow wells drilled into an aquifer, or layer of water-bearing sand and gravel that lies directly under the river, and our use of it will make a minor change in the water table in this immediate area. It will use approximately six million gallons of water per day to support the trees, grasslands, wetlands, ponds and stream in the habitat area.
This is equal to about 300 backyard swimming pools. The design for the project reflects the habitat found in native desert rivers, including the proportion and types of vegetation that occurs naturally in such areas. For example, in the 550 acres of the project, there will be 49 acres of wetland marshes, 99 acres of cottonwood and willow trees and 130 acres of mesquite trees. The stream in the river bottom will replicate a small desert stream, meandering and braiding through the bottom lands. It will extend for about 50 percent of the length of the project and support 15 acres of grasslands and shrubs and another nine acres of wetland marshes.
Once the water has been pumped from the ground, how will it get to the plants and wetlands? Detailed plans for distributing water will be developed during pre-construction engineering of the project, but our present concept involves two systems. Six wells would be located in pairs on the north and south sides of the river at 24th Street, Seventh Street and Central Avenue.
From these locations, water will be fed into open ditches along the top of the banks of the river, similar to the historic irrigation laterals that feed water into farm fields. Water from these canals will be diverted with irrigation gates down the side slopes into wetlands and water bodies on the river terrace. Outfall from these areas again will be taken down slopes leading to the low flow channel to feed the stream and ponds located there.
A second water delivery system involves putting water into a pressurized pipe, also located along the bank tops. Valves on the pipes would allow spray heads to be attached and water would be delivered to the trees and vegetation areas by large pressure sprays, again similar to agricultural spray systems used throughout much of the midwest.
Finally, since the riverbed is very sandy and porous, how will we keep the water from simply soaking back into the riverbed?
First, there will be liners placed under the major water surface locations, the wetlands, distribution canal and ponds. This will consist of a clay lining, which will reduce water losses by about 90 percent. In addition, a liner will be placed underground beneath the ponds in the low flow channel, which will reduce flood damage and also help spread water out to support vegetation growing along the stream and ponds.
In the next issue: "Flood Control in the Rio Salado."
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More Questions and Answers About the Rio Salado Project
An important part of the Rio Salado planning process is finding out what Phoenix residents think about the project. City staff members have been meeting and talking with residents to learn what questions, opinions, ideas and concerns they have. This column is devoted to answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the Rio Salado project.1. How will this help flood control?
Corps of Engineers requires that the project be designed so it doesn't lessen any of the river's present flood capacity. Particularly with the new flood storage at Roosevelt Dam, the river channel through central Phoenix has more than enough capacity for the "100-year" flood. By adding a low flow channel as part of the project design, the Rio Salado will be able to sustain habitat in the channel while not reducing flood conveyance capacity.
2. Will this be like Tempe?
Tempe is a participant in the Rio Salado project with Phoenix and the Corps of Engineers. Tempe also is planning Town Lake, a two-mile-long lake near ASU and downtown Tempe. Rather than habitat restoration, the lake will be used for recreation purposes and to encourage redevelopment near their downtown. It is being paid for by revenues generated from redeveloped land Tempe owns along side the proposed lake.
3. Will the marshy area be safe for children?
None of the project will be designed for human aquatic recreation, such as wading or swimming. However, casual contact with water in the project will not cause harm to humans. Because the project is designed to restore and protect habitat, there will be locations for access by people but there also will be areas set aside for the habitat so that wildlife can flourish undisturbed.
Locations for most of the formal trails, overlooks and information centers will be on the top of the banks throughout the length of the project. Similar to the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, the Rio Salado will offer opportunities and risks as children and adults explore the environment created by a major desert river. However, the city will make every effort to provide a natural environment that is safe for children and adults.
4. What about birds and the airport?
Bird strike potential is a concern of Sky Harbor Airport officials. It is for this reason that the first phase of the Rio Salado goes east only to the I-10 bridge, next to the airport. In addition, the project design in those areas nearest the airport will not feature significant amounts of open water and will be designed to minimize its attractiveness to the birds that are of a concern to aviation officials.
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The Rio Salado Project
The Rio Salado Project represents a long-held vision of many Phoenicians to turn the blighted Salt River into a community, environmental and recreational asset. A partnership between the city of Tempe, the Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Phoenix, the Rio Salado Project will bring enough water into the Salt River to support native shrubs and grasslands, trees and wildlife while preserving the river's flood capacity.Our goal is to have this plan completed and reviewed in time to be funded through 1998 Federal Water Resources Development Act. This newsletter is to keep interested persons informed of the progress being made toward creating this plan and to encourage public participation in the plan's preparation.
For more information, call Karen Williams at (602) 262-4717. This publication is available in the following alternative formats: large print, braille, audio-tape or computer diskette by calling Ozzie Cortes, ADA Liaison, Neighborhood Services Department, at voice number (602) 495-5459 or TDD (602) 495-0685.
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