From PostSecret.

Northern Nevada is in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada Range and “water events” like floods rarely happen on this side of mountains, so it’s newsworthy when the streams and bigger streams rise up even a little. We’re seeing some of this right now due to a relatively wet winter and a fast melt.

Case in point is the Carson River that flows through Douglas County and Carson City. Here’s the Mexican Dam in an undated picture from the Nevada State Library and Archives (probably the 1950s):

Here it is in a picture I took in November 2009 from the other side of the river near the opening of the Mexican Ditch.

And this morning (June 6, 2010), coincidentally standing in the exact same place:

Check out the sound of the water going over the dam.

This is about as much water you’ll see under “normal” conditions. Be careful if you plan to do any hiking in the area or kayaking out on the river.