Historic American Engineering Record: Grand Canal and Crosscut Hydro Plant, North Side of Salt River, Tempe and Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AZ-17 presents a written historical summary and relevant historical documentation about the construction and use of Grand Canal, which delivers water to users on the north side of the Salt River for agricultural, industrial, and municipal uses. Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AZ-30 provides similar documentation about the construction and operation of the Crosscut Hydroelectric Plant, which sits at the head of Grand Canal and relies on canal water flow to generate power. The reports contain narrative descriptions, photographs, drawings, and maps.

Built between 1878 and 1879, the Grand Canal unified and improved the Salt River irrigation system on the north side of the river. The canal was widened during 1907 and 1909. The upper ended was extended in 1911 and 1912, re-routed in 1916, and then realigned in 1989. The canal's development, enlargement, and expansion fueled agricultural and eventual urban growth in central Phoenix and Glendale. Today, it is the oldest canal still in operation within the northside irrigation system.

The Grand Canal also serves the Crosscut Hydro Plant, a significant Salt River Project (SRP) power generation facility. The plant was the largest and most important low-head hydroelectric plant constructed on a SRP canal system. It was also the center of the SRP electrical distribution system for many years.

Built at the head of the Grand Canal, the Crosscut Hyrdro Plant was constructed between 1913 and 1914. The plant was converted to a 60-cycle facility and a de-silting basin was added in 1938. In the mid-1950's, the three 25 cycle diesel generators that were still in operation at the plant were decommissioned and removed. In 1976, the 60 cycle unit was renovated and restored to use.

美国历史工程记录（Historic American Engineering Record，HAER）第AZ-17号收录了关于大运河（Grand Canal）的书面历史概要与相关历史文献，该运河为盐河北岸的用户提供农业、工业及市政用水。美国历史工程记录（HAER）第AZ-30号则提供了关于跨槽水电站（Crosscut Hydroelectric Plant）的同类文献，该电站坐落于大运河渠首，依托运河水流发电。上述报告包含叙事性描述、照片、图纸与地图。

大运河始建于1878至1879年间，整合并优化了盐河北岸的灌溉系统。1907至1909年间，运河被拓宽；1911至1912年延长了上游末端，1916年进行了改道，1989年又完成了重新定线。运河的开发、扩建与扩容推动了菲尼克斯中部与格伦代尔的农业及后续城市发展。如今，它仍是北岸灌溉系统中仍在运营的最古老运河。

大运河同时为跨槽水电站提供服务，该电站是盐河项目（Salt River Project，SRP）旗下的重要发电设施。它曾是盐河项目运河系统中规模最大、影响力最深远的低水头水力发电站，多年来也是盐河项目电力配送系统的核心枢纽。

跨槽水电站建于大运河渠首，始建于1913至1914年间。1938年，该电站被改造为60赫兹设施，并增设了沉沙池。20世纪50年代中期，电站内仍在运行的三台25赫兹柴油发电机组被退役拆除。1976年，60赫兹机组完成翻新并恢复使用。