SRP Arizona canal dry-up starts this week

Salt River Project announced portions of the Arizona Canal will be drained starting Jan. 8 until Feb. 7 for annual maintenance, according to a news release.

The closure will take place along the north side of the Salt River so construction and item removal can commence from Mesa Drive to Recker Road between Camelback and Chaparral Roads.

SRP crews will inspect the canals, remove silt, replace the concrete lining and repair gates along seven to eight miles of the canal in Scottsdale and on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The crews also will remove items that have been illegally thrown in canals and searching underwater structures for evidence of invasive adult quagga mussels.