Gila River at Kelvin (09474000), May 21, 1945
W.L. Heckler, #3709
This view, from a hill on the south side of the Gila River,
shows the bridge at Kelvin from which discharge measurements are made at high
flows. The river flows from right to left in this view and is regulated by
Coolidge Dam, completed in 1928. The highest historic flood at this station
is 132,000 ft3/s in 1916, and three other floods exceeded 40,000
ft3/s. Floods were less than 40,000 ft3/s for 15 years
prior to this photograph. Tamarisk is becoming established in the foreground,
and mesquite and cottonwood trees appear on the far bank. Mineral Creek, spanned
by a railroad bridge, enters the Gila River at left.
