When it rains.....

It's usually pretty dry in Maricopa County, but every few years we get heavy winter rains. This is where the Gila River overflowed across El Mirage road, at a point near PIR in Avondale. By the time this picture had been taken the water had already receded by about 80%, so you can just imagine the amount of water flowing through at the peak of the rains. If I remember correctly SRP and the State had to release water from a couple of the smaller damns that year as well due to the rainfall.