East Verde River

The East Verde River is a tributary of the Verde River in the U.S. state of Arizona. Beginning on the Mogollon Rim near Washington Park, it flows generally southwest through Gila County and the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix. Near the middle of its course, it passes to within about 5 miles (8 km) of Payson, which is southeast of the river. The East Verde River flows through parts of the Mazatzal Wilderness west of Payson.^[4]

The East Verde River as it flows thru the East Verde Estates northwest of Payson

East Verde River
Gila River basin, including Verde River
Location
Country	United States
State	Arizona
Region	Gila County
City	Payson (town)
Physical characteristics
Source	Mogollon Rim
• location	near Washington Park, Tonto National Forest
• coordinates	34°27′01″N 111°15′08″W[1]
• elevation	7,003 ft (2,135 m)[2]
Mouth	Verde River
• location	near Cedar Bench, Tonto National Forest
• coordinates	34°17′11″N 111°39′54″W[1]
• elevation	2,470 ft (750 m)[1]
Basin size	331 sq mi (860 km2)[3]
Discharge
• location	near Childs, 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from mouth
• minimum	0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
• maximum	23,500 cu ft/s (670 m3/s)

The Salt River Project (SRP) supplements the natural flows on the East Verde River with water pumped from Blue Ridge Reservoir on East Clear Creek in Coconino County. The water travels 17 miles (27 km) by pipeline to the East Verde at Washington Park, from whence it flows toward the Verde River and the SRP reservoir behind Horseshoe Dam.^[5] A significant fraction of the Blue Ridge water release of 11,000 acre-feet (14,000,000 m³) a year is allocated to communities along or near the East Verde River. The U.S. Congress has set aside 3,000 acre-feet (3,700,000 m³) a year for Payson and 500 acre-feet (620,000 m³) for other northern Gila County communities.^[6]

The East Verde River in November.

Fish

The Arizona Game and Fish Department lists the following fish species among those living in the East Verde River: rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, and sunfish.^[7]