Tres Rios Water Quality Improvements, Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Damage Reduction in the Arid Southwest Desert

Given a unique opportunity to manage a perennial water source within the arid region of Phoenix, Arizona, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Phoenix teamed to create a solution that most effectively uses the water. The Tres Rios Wetlands not only establishes and restores an historical habitat along the banks of the Salt-Gila River, but integrates water quality improvement, storm water management, water conservation and reuse. Using 13-years of research and exploratory science from the adjacent prototypical demonstration wetlands, the project sponsors and the design team were able to apply the unique learning to the full scale wetlands design. As a result, Phoenix will soon have highly valuable wetlands that demonstrate the capability to engineer facilities that not only meet functional requirements and comply with regulatory concerns, but also improve the environment and habitat quality while providing passive recreation and aesthetic benefits for the community.