Bryce Johnson

My property has a deep (10 ft) and wide (20ft) wash that cuts through it. When there is rain, massive amounts of water flow down out of the mountains, filling this dry creek with a raging river (often called a flash flood). It got me thinking what one could do with such a land feature -- that is, periodic access to vast amounts of fast-flowing water.

I'm new to permaculture, so I would appreciate any thoughts. Has anyone heard of possible creative uses for this? If nothing else, it wouldn't hurt to harvest some of the water with a pump, to irrigate other parts of the property. But I'd like to think about it in terms of bringing the potential for more vibrant life around the wash on the property. In a way, it seems like a truly incredible resource, but its power and infrequency make conventional options seem difficult or risky.

I grew up in AZ but have been living and  homesteading in the eastern US (blue ridge, virginia) for the last 6 years. For family reasons, I’ll be moving back to AZ this summer.

I’m considering moving to a property in Phoenix with roughly half an acre of flat, unused flood-irrigated land in the middle of suburbia. River-supplied flood irrigation in the desert is tempting, because it’s extremely inexpensive and opens up the possibility of growing a broader and more useful variety of tropical plants in a region that doesn’t naturally support that.

I know irrigation doesn’t exactly align with the values of permaculture, but I have some ideas about how I might be able to find a happy medium. As I am of course committed to diversifying my water inputs, making the most of a valuable resource without depending on it seems like a win-win.

I’m wondering if anyone has thoughts or experiences around using irrigation in desert climates, and/or any resources you could point me toward. I may have spent much of my life in AZ, but never as a gardener or homesteader, so even obvious-seeming pointers about the climate are appreciated.

Perhaps 'Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier Land: Lessons from Desert Farmers on Adapting to Climate Uncertainty' by Gary Paul Nabham. I haven't started reading it yet but bought it at the Quivera Coalition Conference in November after hearing him speak there. He's a sharp and experienced guy. Chelsea Green sells it: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/growing_food_in_a_hotter_drier_land:paperback

I've lurked on this forum intermittently for years now, but I just registered so I could say "Thank you!" for this recommendation. I'd never heard of the book, but it is exactly what I needed!