Capturing storm water

Siya Araumi, center, of the flood maintenance division of Los Angeles County Department of Public Works looks at a monitor in the Department Operations Center during a response to a recent rainfall in Alhambra, Calif.

Water diverted by an inflatable dam from the San Gabriel River flows into the Paseo del Rio at San Gabriel Coast Basin spreading grounds in Pico Rivera, Calif.

Staff and engineers with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at a monitor weather conditions in the Department Operations Center during a response to a recent rainfall.

The Devils Gate Dam was built to control flood waters from the San Gabriel Mountains as part of the LA County flood control district.

A view through the spillway of the Devils Gate Dam, built to control flood waters from the San Gabriel Mountains.

An inflatable dam diverts water from the San Gabriel River to the Paseo del Rio at San Gabriel Coast Basin spreading grounds in Pico Rivera, Calif.

Water diverted by an inflatable dam from the San Gabriel River flows into the Paseo del Rio at San Gabriel Coast Basin spreading grounds in Pico Rivera, Calif.

An inflatable dam diverts water from the San Gabriel River into the Paseo del Rio at San Gabriel Coast Basin spreading grounds in Pico Rivera, Calif.

An inflatable dam (not pictured) diverts water from the San Gabriel River, shown, to the Paseo del Rio at San Gabriel Coast Basin spreading grounds in Pico Rivera, Calif.