Drenching monsoon rains earlier this summer not only brought intense greenery and dazzling wildflowers to the Catalina Mountains. They also filled critical water-storage tanks to full capacity.
The abundance of moisture is a welcome change from limited supplies in drought years, and it means mountain residents, visitors and firefighters wonโt face water shortages for now.
โThe water tanks on the mountain are all full and the springs are flowing full-tilt,โ said Michael Stanley, manager of the Mount Lemmon Water District. โIn all, we have 2 million gallons of waterโ stored in several large tanks.
The tanks include two in Upper Sabino Canyon, near the mountain village of Summerhaven, one in Carter Canyon and one at Loma Linda, Stanley said.
โOne of the tanks in Upper Sabino Canyon has 800,000 gallons and one has 200,000โ with the additional 1 million gallons in other tanks.
The key to all that fluid wealth: a veritable deluge in July and early August.
โWe had about 16 inches of rain just in July,โ Stanley said. Monsoon rainfall in the Catalina Mountains varies widely from year to year, but 16 inches in a month could be near a record.
โWe havenโt had much rain the last week or so,โ Stanley said. โBut I think weโre in good shape.โ
A LUSH LANDSCAPE
โWith all that rain, everything is so lushโ in the Catalinas, Stanley said. โThe trees are just going crazy up there.โ
A recent hike in Upper Sabino Canyon and on the Aspen Draw Trail above the canyon revealed a mountain landscape that might be mistaken for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Evergreens, aspens and maples displayed the many shades of green.
Wildflowers, including golden columbines, brightened glades with expansive clumps of blooms.
Ferns grew waist-high in some meadows, and large mushrooms flourished โ especially near fallen, decaying trees.
A small stream gurgled down the canyon, plunging here and there in tiny waterfalls.
And there could be more monsoon moisture to come. The monsoon season continues through Sept. 30, as defined by the National Weather Service.
