Overview
The Water Quality Program (WQP) is responsible for ensuring the Community’s waters are protected. The WQP conducts monitoring and sampling of the Community’s surface water and groundwater resources. Data collected is analyzed in order to identify water quality issues, and is housed in a database. The WQP implements best management practices within the Community to help safeguard waterways. Additionally, the WQP develops environmental outreach materials and facilitates educational activities for other departments, Community schools, and Community members to increase awareness of nonpoint source pollution and watershed protection, and to promote environmental stewardship.
Document development plays an integral part of ensuring the water quality is improved, protected, and maintained. These documents may also provide a tool to share data with the Community and federal government. The WQP develops and updates documents to reflect current federal standards and guidelines as well as consideration of any SRPMIC cultural practices. Most documents are revised every 2-5 years, or as needed.
Water Quality Documents
FY2017 Water Quality Assessment Report
Public Notices
This page will be updated periodically to include any current notices.
***There has been a reported case of “swimmer’s itch” at the Salt River between Pole 6 and Pole 7. It is a red, bumpy, and itchy rash caused by a parasite in the water. Avoid very shallow, slow-moving areas where snails are present because they are carriers of the parasite. Wash or rinse your body off immediately after exiting the river. If infected, use a corticosteroid cream and/or allergy medicine to control the itch. ****
Water Quality Sites Map
This map highlights the Water Quality Program surface water sampling sites within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Wetlands Program
Plants such as cattail, arrowweed, willow, cottonwood, yerba mansa, and mesquite, that have traditional uses, grow in or around wetlands. Wetlands are areas with an abundance of slow-moving water, which provide habitat for many plants and animals. Within the Community, both man-made and naturally-formed wetlands exist. The Community created two treatment wetlands using funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency: the Cottonwood Wetland and Lehi Wetland. These two man-made resources utilize the natural functions of wetlands to improve the quality of water going into the Salt River channel by filtering pollutants and controlling erosion.
The Cottonwood Wetland, the Community’s first treatment wetland, was constructed in 2003 just north of the Salt River near the Loop 101/202 freeway interchange. The Lehi Wetland was constructed in 2008, and was built within a Salt River outfall like its predecessor. Both of these Wetlands reduce pollutant loading to the Salt River channel, and serve as wildlife habitat, attractive Community amenities, and educational and recreational resources.
Environmental Education and Outreach Program
The WQP is diligent in educating the Community about its Program responsibilities, nonpoint source pollution and its impacts, riparian communities, and other relevant environmental topics. The WQP believes that the protection of the Community’s water resources must be a joint effort, and therefore changes in awareness and understanding of water quality issues are important to maintaining and improving water quality.
If you are an SRPMIC Community member, with an SRPMIC organization or Department, a Tribal entity, environmental agency, or environmental outreach group, and would like to schedule a wetland tour/activity, river tour/activity (for SRPMIC groups only), or presentation, please fill out the request form below. If you have any questions about our outreach program, please send us an e-mail or call the EPNR Hotline.
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