In Phoenix, where yearly rain averages around 7-8 inches, conserving water is of the utmost importance. Understanding where the Valley gets its water is an important aspect of water stewardship, especially in South Phoenix, where there is a rich history of agriculture and water stewardship.
Verde River Watershed
Salt River Watershed
Hohokam Influence
For centuries before the arrival of European settlers, the Hohokam lived and thrived in the Salt River Valley. They constructed an extensive canal system that allowed them to control the water from the Salt River. Over 500 miles of canals were constructed and they served up to 50,000 people.
Due to the extensiveness of the canals, they would have required organization and cooperation between different communities. Modern day archaeologists believe that due to the complexity of the engineering of the canals, it’s likely the Hohokam had some sort of division of labor, with one group being engineers and planners, while the other were the laborers. The Hohokam also had no large, domesticated animals to help dig, so they likely dug all the canals by hand using stone tools.
Between the 1300s and 1400s, the Hohokam settlements lost much of their populace, due to numerous speculated reasons, like war and climate. Once the Europeans arrived, largely during the 1860s, they uncovered the canal ruins and used them to their advantage. Their farms thrived thanks to Hohokam ingenuity.
SRP’s Role
South Phoenix
South Phoenix has historically been a community of minorities. The east-west rail built in the 1880s established an unofficial boundary between North and South Phoenix. European migrants lived on the North while Mexicans and other minorities were directed to the South. However, these minority groups were able to build successful farms thanks to the canals from the Salt River, which had been laid out centuries prior by the Hohokam. These canals allowed water to flow across the land so these communities could farm and make a living, all while being economically and physically restricted. In the early 20* century, Japanese laborers arrived in South Phoenix and began farming. These families became known for their popular flower farms during the 1950s, and were a staple of South Mountain for decades. As Phoenix expanded, many of the old farms were lost to development, but there are still remnants of the thriving agricultural community within South Phoenix.
Today, South Phoenix still faces the repercussions of the discriminatory practices of the past. But residents remain resilient, as there are numerous urban farms within South Phoenix that work to provide fresh, affordable food to residents who otherwise would have none. The spirit of the agricultural past lives on within the modern community.