Flying out of Sky Harbor International Airport this past weekend provided me a window view of the entirety of the Salt River Project east of Phoenix. The Salt River Project is a series of reservoirs built along the Salt River in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. The Salt River Project dates back to the early 20th Century when the 1902 National Reclamation Act was passed. The Salt River Project was one of five reclamation projects awarded in 1903. The purpose of the Salt River Project was to stem the irregular droughts and floods of the Salt River, provide water for agricultural use and hydroelectricity. The first dam to be built along the Salt River was Roosevelt Dam which began construction in 1904 and was completed in 1911. The Roosevelt Dam portion of the Salt River Project is what spurred highway development along what is now Arizona State Route 88 on the Apache Trail. More regarding AZ 88 and Roosevelt Dam can be found at these pre...
Because every road has a story.