National Monument · BLM · AZ
Sonoran Desert National Monument
Alerts and conditions
Weather Flood Warning issued November 8 at 7:31AM MST until November 9 at 11:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
* WHAT...Flooding caused by upstream dam release continues.
* WHERE...Maricopa County in south central Arizona...
* WHEN...Until 1100 AM MST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of the Verde River between Fort McDowell and the
Salt River is occurring. Recreation on or near the Verde River will
be unsafe.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 726 AM MST, A streamflow gauge on the Verde River near the
Salt River confluence measured a flow exceeding 1800 cfs.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Fort McDowell and any recreational areas along the Verde River
downstream towards the confluence with the Salt River.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
What to do: Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. Flooding is occurring. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.
Read the full alert · Until Nov 9, 2026, 6:00 PM
Weather Flood Warning issued November 8 at 7:26AM MST until November 9 at 11:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
* WHAT...Flooding caused by upstream dam releases continues.
* WHERE...Maricopa County in south central Arizona...
* WHEN...Until 1100 AM MST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of the Salt River is occurring. Recreation on or
near the Salt River will be unsafe.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 721 AM MST, An upstream floodgate release at Bartlett Dam
continues to cause flooding in the warned area. A streamflow
gauge on the Verde River near the Salt River confluence measured
a flow exceeding 1800 cfs.
- Flooding is occurring along the Salt River.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Mainly recreational areas along the river around and downstream
of the Verde and Salt River confluence.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
What to do: Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. Flooding is occurring. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.
Read the full alert · Until Nov 9, 2026, 6:00 PM
Weather Flood Warning issued November 8 at 7:21AM MST until November 9 at 11:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
* WHAT...Flooding caused by upstream dam releases continues.
* WHERE...Maricopa County in south central Arizona...
* WHEN...Until 1100 AM MST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of the Salt River below Granite Reef Dam is
occurring. Flooding of low water crossings across the Salt River
upstream of Tempe Town Lake, including McKellips Road, is
occurring.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 712 AM MST, dam operators reported around 1400 cfs was being
released from Granite Reef Dam. Additionally, a streamflow gauge
downstream of Granite Reef Dam measured a flow around 2000 cfs.
Flooding due to a dam floodgate release will continue.
- Flooding is occurring along the Salt River.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Salt River between Granite Reef Dam and Tempe Town Lake.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
What to do: Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. Flooding is occurring. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.
Read the full alert · Until Nov 9, 2026, 6:00 PM
Weather Flood Warning issued November 8 at 7:12AM MST until November 9 at 11:00AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
* WHAT...Flooding caused by upstream dam releases continues.
* WHERE...Maricopa County in south central Arizona...
* WHEN...Until 1100 AM MST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying
and flood-prone locations is occurring. Low-water crossings are
inundated with water and may not be passable.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
- At 709 AM MST, upstream floodgate release from Tempe Town Lake
and continued releases from Granite Reef Dam farther upstream has
lead to flooding in the warned area. A US Army Corps of Engineers
streamflow gauge on the Gila River showed the flow near Old US 80
was around 1000 cfs. Another automated gauge reported that the
current pool elevation of Painted Rock Lake was around 571 feet.
- Flooding is occurring along the Gila River.
- Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Goodyear, Painted Rock Dam, Liberty, Phoenix International
Raceway and Arlington.
- http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
What to do: Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.
Read the full alert · Until Nov 9, 2026, 6:00 PM
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Plan your visit
Check the Bureau of Land Management for current hours, fees and access.
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Pair it with
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument NPS · 51 miles
- Ironwood Forest National Monument BLM · 61 miles
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument NPS · 66 miles
- Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 73 miles
- Tonto National Monument NPS · 90 miles
- Tonto National Forest USFS · 93 miles