Salt River Project Diversion and Conveyance System Historic District: National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

Summary

The Salt River Project Diversion and Conveyance Historic District consists of nine main canals, the diversion dam that feeds water to those canals, and one hydropower plant situated on one of those canals. The contributing properties are: Granite Reef Diversion Dam (a structure); the Southside Gatekeeper’s house at the dam (a building); three canals serving land on the north side of the Salt River (the Arizona, Grand, and New Crosscut canals, all structures); six canals serving land on the south side of the Salt River (the South, Eastern, Consolidated, Tempe, Western, and Highline canals, all structures); and the Crosscut Hydro Plant (a building), situated at the downstream end of the New Crosscut Canal. All are part of an operationally interconnected system of 1,300 miles of canals, laterals, ditches, and drains, with appurtenant sub-structures, that supply water to farms and communities within an approximately 375 square mile water service area. The Crosscut Hydro Plant is one component of the larger Salt River Project power generation system that, collectively, provides electric service to a three county area of central Arizona that encompasses Phoenix and its satellite communities and area farms.

The Salt River Project Diversion and Conveyance System exhibits statewide significance under Criterion A in the areas of Politics/Government, Community Planning and Development, and Agriculture. Under Criterion A it is associated with the evolution of the Salt River Project, one of the first five federally-sponsored western water projects authorized under the National Reclamation Act of 1902. Under Politics/Government and Community Planning and Development, it is associated with the growth of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Under Agriculture, it was pivotal in providing water to support the agricultural industry that was the economic foundation of local communities in the Salt River Valley.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Submission, Salt River Project

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1906 to 1938 (Period of Significance)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Collaborator(s): Salt River Project

Sponsor(s): USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office

Submitted To(s): USDI, National Park Service

File Information