The Gila Bend Basin, located in the east central part of the planning area, is 1,284 square miles in area.  Geographic features and principal communities are shown on Figure 7.2-1.  The basin is characterized by washes and a series of small mountain ranges. Vegetation types include Lower Colorado River Valley and Arizona uplands Sonoran desertscrub.  (See Figure 7.0-9)

Principal geographic features shown on Figure 7.2-1 are:

• The Gila River running east to west in the northern portion of the basin and Painted Rock Reservoir, which during flood events impounds the river
• Quilotosa and Sauceda Washes south of Gila Bend
• Maricopa and Sand Tank Mountains in the eastern portion of the basin, the Sauceda Mountains in the south and the Gila Bend Mountains in the north
• The highest point in the basin at 3,183 feet in the Maricopa Mountains
• The lowest point in the basin about 660 feet at Painted Rock Dam where the Gila River exits the basin

Figure 7.2-1 Gila Bend Basin Geographic Features

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References and Supplemental Reading for the Gila Bend Basin