The role of micro-computers in data acquisition and analysis at the Salt River project

The Salt River Project (SRP), a water and power utility serving the greater Phoenix area, operates a system of six water storage reservoirs on the Salt and Verde Rivers of central Arizona. Excess water cannot be released until the reservoirs are near their combined capacity of 2,000,000 acre flood events in the Phoenix area. Furthermore, updated hyrometeorology studies for the 13,000 square mile watershed indicate that reservoir capacities and dam outlet works are inadequate for controlling large flood flows. These concerns, coupled with recent improvements in watershed monitoring and forecasting, have led to the need for advances in data axquisition, processing and analysis system.