Agua Fria River

The Agua Fria River (Spanish for "cold water") is a 120-mile (190 km) long intermittent stream which flows generally south from 20 miles (32 km) east-northeast of Prescott in the U.S. state of Arizona. Prescott draws much of its municipal water supply from the upper Agua Fria watershed.[6] The Agua Fria runs through the Agua Fria National Monument. The river then flows through a small canyon called "Black Canyon" into Lake Pleasant, a popular recreation area near Peoria, Arizona. (There is a large "Black Canyon" on the Colorado River along the Arizona–Nevada border.)

This article is about A River. For other, see Agua Fria (disambiguation).
Agua Fria River
Tributary to Gila River
Agua Fria River at Gillett, Arizona
The Agua Fria River on the border edge of Gillett, Arizona.
Map of the Gila River watershed including the Agua Fria River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountyMaricopa
Yavapai
Physical characteristics
SourceGranite Creek divide
 • locationabout 1.5 miles northeast of Granite Dells, Arizona
 • coordinates34°37′00″N 112°23′56″W[1]
 • elevation5,215 ft (1,590 m)[2]
MouthGila River
 • location
about 1 mile south of Goodyear, Arizona
 • coordinates
33°23′22″N 112°21′53″W[1]
 • elevation
912 ft (278 m)[3]
Length128.51 mi (206.82 km)[4]
Basin size2,433.70 square miles (6,303.3 km2)[5]
Discharge 
 • locationGila River
 • average157.28 cu ft/s (4.454 m3/s) at mouth with Gila River[5]
Basin features
ProgressionGila River → Colorado River → Gulf of California
River systemColorado River
Tributaries 
 • leftCoyote Wash, Yarber Wash, Ash Creek, Sycamore Creek, Black Hill Wash, Indian Creek, Silver Creek, Bishop Creek, Tank Creek, Lonny Creek, Squaw Creek, Little Squaw Creek, New River
 • rightLynx Creek, Clipper Wash, Big Bug Creek, Badger Spring Wash, Black Canyon Creek, Slate Creek, Boulder Creek, Tule Creek, Humbug Creek, French Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Morgan City Wash, Caterpillar Tank Wash, Twin Butcher Wash
WaterbodiesLake Pleasant
BridgesBeecher Loop, Glassford Hill Road, Talbot Drive, Kilkenny Place (x2), Bronco Lane, Gallery Lane, Bronco Lane, Roundup Drive, Cattletrack Drive, Robert Road, Lakeshore Drive, Fain Road, Old Fain Road, Bradshaw Mountain Road, AZ 169, Prescott Street, Agua Fria Ranch Road, Arizona Hunt Club Road, Old Sycamore Road, I-17, Hammock Ranch Road, EZ Ranch Pit Road, Bloody Basin Road E, Perry Road, Squaw Valley Road, I-17, Old Black Canyon Highway, AZ 74, W Carefree Highway, AZ 303, N 107th Avenue, Happy Valley Parkway, W Rose Garden Lane, W Bell Road, US 60, W Glendale Avenue, W Camelback Road, W Indian School Road, W McDowell Road, I-10, AZ 85, W Lower Buckeye Road

During rainy weather and at times when water is flowing in the intermittent Agua Fria River, it discharges into the Gila River, which also only flows during wet periods of the year.

The Central Arizona Water Conservation District of the Central Arizona Project operates the Agua Fria Recharge Project, which is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the New Waddell Dam. It serves to recharge underground aquifers in this area, and ends at Lake Pleasant, Phoenix.[7]

Variant names

According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as:[1]

  • Agua Fria Creek
  • Agua Frie

Course

The Agua Fria River rises about 1.5 miles northeast of Granite Dells, Arizona and then flows south to join the Gila River about 1 mile south of Goodyear, Arizona.[3]

Watershed

Agua Fria River drains 2,433.70 square miles (6,303.3 km2) of area, receives about 16.4 in/year of precipitation, has a wetness index of 415.05, and is about 11% forested.[5]

  • Agua Fria Canyon, near Richinbar Mine, Agua Fria National Monument
    Agua Fria Canyon, near Richinbar Mine, Agua Fria National Monument
  • The historic Agua Fria River Bridge was built by the Santa Fe Railroad over the Agua Fria River in 1895. It is located on the right side of Grand Avenue traveling from Phoenix to Wickenburg, close to 111th Ave. in El Mirage.
    The historic Agua Fria River Bridge was built by the Santa Fe Railroad over the Agua Fria River in 1895. It is located on the right side of Grand Avenue traveling from Phoenix to Wickenburg, close to 111th Ave. in El Mirage.

See also

References
  1. "GNIS Detail – Agua Fria River". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  2. "Get Maps". USGS Topoview. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  3. "Get Maps". USGS Topoview. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  5. "Agua Fria River Watershed Report". US EPA Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  6. Upper Agua Fria Basin Archived September 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Agua Fria Recharge Project Archived January 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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