Part A

Arizona Streams

A number of major streams flow across Arizona. Due to the semi-arid climate, only the Colorado flows constantly and is termed a perennial stream. Lesser streams flow for only a portion of the year, and include like the Little Colorado River, Salt River, Verde River, Gila River, etc. Flow in these seasonal orintermittent streams is highest in the mountainous upper regions (headwaters) and run dry for much of the year in their lower areas. The great majority of the smaller streams (wasesh, arroyos, gulches) in Arizona are ephemeral and flow only after precipitation occurs.

SW rivers

AZ streams

Figure 14-2. Major streams of the Southwest (left) and Arizona (right).


Colorado River

Lees Ferry

Lava Falls Rapids

Figure 14-3. The Colorado River flows several hundred miles through the Grand Canyon area.

A few miles below the Glen Canyon Dam, Lees Ferry (river mile 0) is one of the few readily accessible points to the river (left).
Farther west, Lava Falls Rapid (river mile 179.7) is perhaps the largest of all of the Grand Canyon rapids (right).

 

Refer to the Wikipedia's Colorado River web page and Figure 14-2 to answer Quiz Me! questions A01 through A04.

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Quiz Me! / A01

 

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Quiz Me! / A02

 

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Quiz Me! / A03 

 

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Quiz Me! / A04 


 


Other Arizona Rivers

Verde River

Agua Fria River

Figure 14-4. The Verde and Agua Fria rivers are major streams in central Arizona.

Kayaking the Verde River near Camp Verde (left).
Spring flooding along the Agua Fria River at Badger Springs Wash (right).

 

Refer to Figure 14-2 to answer Quiz Me! questions A05 through A08.

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Quiz Me! / A05

 

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Quiz Me! / A06 

 

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Quiz Me! / A07  

 

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Quiz Me! / A08


 


Salt River Project

SRP watershed

Roosevelt Lake and dam

Figure 14-5. The Salt River Project (SRP) helps to manage Arizona's water resources.

The SRP watershed and service area (left).
The Theodore Roosevelt dam and lake on the Salt River (right).

 

Go to the Wikipedia's Salt River Project web page to answer Quiz Me! questions A09 and A10. 

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Quiz Me! / A09

 

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Quiz Me! / A10