TEMPE - SRP workers stood knee-deep in the muddy bottom of the Tempe Canal on Friday morning, pulling a long metal fence through the shallow murky water as white amur fish thrashed in front of them. Workers began the first major phase of the annual canal repairs by herding and relocating the thousands of fish that help keep SRP’s canals clean.

“We’re in our first day of our annual Southside Dry Up,” said Justin Schonhoff, water maintenance manager for SRP. “That’s where we have 30 days to remove the fish, clean all the debris out of the canals, and repair any concrete lining that we see.”

Crews lowered the water in the canal to between 18 inches and two feet, allowing workers to slowly guide the fish into one area. Then workers with hand nets scooped the fish into the larger net, which w

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