Monsoon Rain Storm Floods Madera West Picnic Area (by George West)

A torrential monsoon rain descended on the west-facing slope of the ridge north of Mt. Wrightson on September 4 that resulted in an extremely heavy run-off of water down into Madera Canyon late that day and on September 5. Picnickers raced to pack up and depart before they would be blocked in by the floods that were soon to follow.

The rain water, now less impeded by vegetation that was removed by the Florida Fire, roared down the mountain creating some new channels and completely filling creek beds and traditionally dry washes. The water now bringing boulders and stones by the thousands raced across Madera Canyon Road mostly just north of the road to the Bog Spring Campground access road. Other channels were created further north along the road where water came across and washed out culverts and began undercutting the road. At the northern end of the Madera West picnic area, boulders, stones, rocks, and sand piled up to a depth of three feet on the roadway, filled the catchment basin recently dug for rain water, and poured over the road adding two feet of material to the picnic area. Tables, grills, and bulletin boards were knocked over and partially destroyed. The trail leading from Whitehouse up to Madera was also filled with rubble and one of the bridges was washed out. A 30-foot length of four-foot diameter culvert was shoved 100 yards down the hill.

After a week, the new drainage channel is still running and there are a few areas where cars have to cross some shallow water to get up into the canyon. The Bog Spring campground road is closed as the culvert was plugged and the roadbed washed out. Part of the picnic area is closed off and the trail below is closed.

Pima County will have some work to do to replace culverts and stabilize the road bed. The Forest Service will have to fix the road to Bog Spring and clean up the mess at the Madera Picnic area. Access to residents and visitors to the canyon is open. Just be careful when you cross the flooded wash by Madera Picnic area.

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