Official Web Site of the City of Phoenix

The Demonstration Wetlands consists of the Hayfield Site, the Cobble Site and the Research Cells.

The Hayfield Site includes two wetland cells or basins which are being studied to determine the optimum design configuration for water quality improvement and increased habitat value. Additionally, the Site has many public uses such as a riparian corridor trail system, birding opportunities and picnic areas.

The Cobble Site includes two cells located in the river bottom, west of 91st Avenue. These cells are used to perform research on water quality improvements in infiltrating groundwater, wetland systems, and public use. Most of the research in the last few years has focused on security issues, and vandalism deterrence. The south basin has been dry since January 2004 due to repeated vandalism at the site.

The Research Cells - The third wetland system located at Tres Rios was a series of 12 small cells that were located within two unused sludge-drying basins inside the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The 12 basins covered approximately 3.6 acres and were designed to test the effects the number of deep zones (11 to 35 percent deep-zones) has on water quality. These cells were decommissioned in 2003.