The "Valley of the Sun", located in Arizona, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. It also is called the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The Phoenix Metropolitan Area is a hot, dry, desert. Right! Well, newcomers to the "Valley" are amazed at the number of boats that they often see being towed along our highways and freeways; and the number of boats parked in peoples driveways, in the "Valley Of The Sun". It's been said that Metro Phoenix and Scottsdale have more boats per capita than any other major city in the United States. The Phoenix Area receives it water from main sources. The Salt River Project (SRP), is a name used to refer to two separate entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, which is a political subdivision of the state of Arizona, and the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, which is a private company that serves as an electrical utility and one of the water providers for the Phoenix metropolitan area. The SRP owns and operates four reservoirs along the Salt River east of Phoenix. even though, the main function of these reservoirs is to serve as water storage for the rapidly growing Phoenix municipal area. The four reservoirs also serve as important valley recreational centers. The SRP lakes are regularly stocked with fish, and they have campgrounds with boat ramps for fishing and other watersports. The only perennial river in Arizona that still flows from its natural source to its mouth is �The Verde River.� Bartlett Dam was built on the Verde River, by the Salt River Project (SRP) in 1939. It forms Bartlett Lake. Then during World War II, the Phillips Dodge Corporation built Horseshoe Dam on the Verde River, which was completed in 1945. Horseshoe Dam forms Horseshoe Lake. Both dams are owned and operated today by the SRP. Both of these lakes are regularly stocked with fish, and they also have campgrounds with boat ramps for fishing and other watersports. Another provider of water to the area is the Central Arizona Water Conservation District; which was created in 1971, to provide a means for Arizona to repay the federal government for the cost of the construction of the facility and to manage and operate CAP's water flow to the valley and to Tucson. As the need for more water in Central Arizona increased; the construction of the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct, was started in 1973, to divert water from the Colorado River to Lake Pleasant. Converting Lake Pleasant from an agricultural project, into a storage reservoir for the Central Arizona Project. A new, larger, Waddell Dam was started and then finished at Lake Pleasant in November of 1992. This increased the size of Lake Pleasant, making it the second - largest body of water in central Arizona. Lake Pleasant is regularly stocked with fish, and it also has campgrounds with boat ramps for fishing and other watersports. Thus, the Phoenix area lakes offer vast, clear surface water created by the main rivers feeding the Phoenix area. Each of the Phoenix lakes offers an abundance of activities; including boating, sailing, and fishing, water skiing, swimming and camping. Some of the lakes even offer RV parks for traveler convenience. Some lakes provide picturesque mountainous scenery, and beautiful desert views, with spectacular wildflowers during the spring. The canyon walls of Apache, Canyon, & Saguaro Lakes are spectacular. You can even find natural springs flowing along some of their hiking trails. Lake Pleasant even has wild roaming burros. Apache Lake has javelina , wild sheep, eagles, deer, and black bear. If you are an avid fisherman, the "Valley Of The Sun" or "Phoenix Area Lakes", offer excellent bass fishing. A trophy catch is even possible!

If you are planning to visit the "Valley Of The Sun" or "Phoenix Area Lakes". And if you are coming from outside of Arizona, you could fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and then rent a car. There are many hotels and motels in the area. We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.

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Alamo Lake, Arizona, Great Fishing Close By, Not A Valley Lake	Apache Lake, Arizona
Bartlett Lake, Arizona	Canyon Lake, Arizona
Horseshoe Lake, Arizona	Pleasant Lake, Arizona
Roosevelt Lake, Arizona	Saguaro Lake, Arizona

Salt River Recreation Area. Great For Recreation. Tubing, Hiking, Biking, Boating, Fishing.

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