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RG 88
Rio Salado Development District

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Historical Note:

In 1966, sixteen architectural students at Arizona State University were assigned to create a design that combined planning for flood control and environmental issues for the Salt River, beginning the Rio Salado Project.  In March, 1967, the designs were presented to the public by the students, Professor James Elmore, then Dean of the College of Architecture, and Robert McConnell, an ASU professor.

The Valley Forward Association, a group dedicated to civic progress, promoted the project from 1969 and through the 1970s.  House Bill 2283 designated the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors as the fiscal agent for the Rio Salado Project in 1975.  In January, 1980, the legislature passed a bill creating the Rio Salado Development District. 

The project was to encompass thousands of acres for parks and recreation areas, lakes and streams, parkways and private development along a 40 mile stretch of the Salt River in the Phoenix Metropolitan area.  The proposed project was defeated by voters in a special election in 1987.

Scope and Content:

The records of the Rio Salado Development District, RG 88, document the project from planning to final defeat by the voters. Records include bylaws, minutes of meetings, agendas, legislative bills, proposals, reports, notes, memoranda, applications, notices of meetings, correspondence, newspaper clippings, master deed lists, charts, maps, photographs, videos, slides, drawings and publications, 1924; 1952-1988 (bulk 1980-1987).

The records are organized in four series, subject files, 1962-1988, promotional materials, 1924; 1978-1987, maps 1952-1987, and publications, 1968-1987.  The bulk of the materials span the years 1980-1987.  The records comprise 29 boxes, 150 rolled maps, 1 large 5 drawer map case, and 117 presentation boards.

Series Description:

Series One, Subject files, 1962-1988, is arranged alphabetically.  The files contain executive directors' and board member files, board minutes, notices of meetings, agendas, memoranda, correspondence, proposals, legislative bills, statistics, membership applications, reports, financial statements, bylaws, deed lists, and notes.  Duplicates of Board minutes may be found in several folders. 

Prominent topics include the Valley Forward Association, the Rio Salado Association, Plan Six and other flood control plans, water supply, the Rio Salado Master Plan, and the Rio Salado Development District Board of Directors.  Materials relate to Arizona State University, College of Architecture, the Central Arizona Water Control Study and cities in Maricopa County.

Series Two, Promotional Materials, 1924; 1978-1987, includes video tapes, photographs, audio cassettes, slides,  and presentation boards.  Records in this series document the publicity for the Rio Salado Development District and are listed by the type of presentation. 

Subjects of videos, photographs, slides, audio cassettes and  include: promotional activities, project plans, displays, nature scenes, recreational facilities, floods, bridges, parks, buildings, charts of costs, revenues and benefits, and information about people.  Items 594-599 are slide carousels.  Items 595 and 599 also contain audio cassettes.

Presentation boards are arranged by drawings, maps or photographs and document land and water use, aerial views of the valley, project plans, proposed flood control, landscapes and proposed recreational areas.

Series Three, Maps, 1952-1987, includes topographical, U.S. Geological Survey, street, land ownership, planned areas, zoning, numbering and aerial maps.  The maps are arranged in the following categories: State of Arizona, Gila River, Maricopa County, Mesa, Phoenix, Rapids, Rio Salado Project and Development District, the Salt River and valley, San Diego, Tempe Water Control, Wells and US Geological Survey.  Some maps are unidentified.

Series Four, Publications, 1968-1987, contains magazines, reports, newspapers, and brochures relating to the Rio Salado Project and water control in the Salt River Valley.  The publications are arranged alphabetically.

Note on Arrangement and Description:

Item titles in Series One are taken primarily from the original folder labels, but folders may contain information on more than one subject.  Series Two presentation boards are stored by size and not by numerical order.  Numbers on the inventory for Series Three maps represent item numbers, not box numbers.  Numbers also represent single items unless otherwise noted.  Maps listed in an item may be different and are noted by "diff." on the inventory.  Series Three maps stored in the map case are identified on the inventory as MC D.  Other maps are stored in packets by size and are noted on the inventory as P with a packet and item number.

Series One: Subject Files

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Series Two: Promotional Material

Video Tapes:

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Photographs:

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Slides and Cassettes:

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Presentation Boards:

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Photographs:

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Drawings:

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Series Three: Maps

Arizona, State of

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Series Four: Publications

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