Salt River Project has started releasing water from two reservoirs in the Verde River onto the Granite Reef Diversion Dam and into the Salt River, following massive amounts of snowfall.

Jeff Lane is a spokesperson for SRP. He said water is being released at nearly 5,000 cubic feet per second, and the water release may take some time, depending on the weather.

“It could be for two weeks, it could be for two months, we’re not sure yet," Lane said. "It depends on how Mother Nature reacts and how quick that snow starts coming down. There’s a lot of snow up there in the watershed that has to come down.”

Closures are expected on portions of Gilbert and McKellips roads throughout the water release.