Brian McAfee has lived near the intersection of Horizon Blvd. and Nancy for several years. He said the gully on his property has filled nearly 80 feet in the last seven years. McAfee said when the area experiences major rainfall, the gully fills up flooding his property. One of his concerns now is that if the gully fills completely with sand, it will flood the street and ruin nearby businesses.

McAfee said he has been to several Socorro offices, including zoning, the water department and a previous mayor's office for help, but was told there weren't any options for him.

"I've been treated like the red-headed stepchild," McAfee said.

KFOX-14 took the problem to the city of Socorro. David Garcia, a public information officer for the city, said there is little the city can do because the gully is on private property. Garcia said until it affects city streets, they are unable to do anything about it.

KFOX-14 asked Garcia if flood prevention steps should be taken now instead of waiting for the flood waters to hit. Garcia said there is no predicting an act of God. He said the city cannot risk spending tax payer money on something that may or may not happen, when there are problems such as needing sidewalks and streetlights that are more pressing.

McAfee is now left with two options. He can pay to fill in the gully himself, costing possibly more than $40,000, or wait to see what happens. McAfee said he was told he is not allowed to fill in or make changes to the gully unless he can make sure it does not affect any neighboring properties.

In 2006, KFOX-14 did a series of special assignments in an area about one mile away, near Horizon Blvd. and Thunderbird, where an entire neighborhood was nearly washed away in massive flood.