What we can learn from devastating forest fires This April 30, 2018, photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service shows a helicopter fighting a wildfire in north-central Arizona. (U.S. Forest Service, Coconino National Forest via AP) Over the past 10 years, we have watched as large wildfires ravaged the watershed in and around the Salt and Verde rivers. The devastation proves one important fact that must be addressed now – our forests are unhealthy. SRP manages the water supply for much of the Valley – most of which comes from 8.3 million acres of land in northern Arizona. Snowfall and rain provide the water that travels through the watershed into SRP reservoirs, which is then delivered to homes and businesses via canals.