The expanses of green lawns and numerous golf courses in Arizona's cities require tremendous amounts of water to maintain them. Originally built to supply water to agricultural operations, much of the water that now flows through the many canals that criss-cross the Phoenix metropolitan area, goes towards urban uses.
Canals also carry water to municipal treatment plants for distribution as drinking water.
These man made oases provide some pleasant opportunities for recreation and nature observation. The banks are often paved or of hard packed dirt that permit easy walking, jogging or bicycling. Popular stretches of the Arizona Canal and Indian Bend will attract hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts on pleasant weekends during the cooler seasons. Come summer, the heat keeps most people away, but there tends to be a bit more to see, as far as birds and other wildlife. The nicest canal sections to tour are the Arizona Canal from Cortez Park at 35th Ave.