Normally, no water is impounded behind the dams; they are strictly for flood control.

However, during the spring runoff water will back up behind the northern dam.

The gate is normally left open to allow the river to flow freely.

This dam has a two lane gravel road across the top which is open to the public.

Rocky Arroyo doesn't normally have water flowing through it and the impoundment area behind the dam is much drier than the impoundment area behind the northern dam.