Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 8
Arizona Closes San Carlos Lake After 100% Fish Die in Drought and Dam Release
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 8

Arizona Closes San Carlos Lake After 100% Fish Die in Drought and Dam Release

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 8

Summary

  • San Carlos Lake has been closed indefinitely after officials said a fish kill wiped out about 100% of the reservoir’s fish population.
  • Drought conditions and water released from the dam triggered the die-off, and decomposing fish now pose health risks to people who fish or swim there.
  • Officials barred fishing, harvesting, possessing fish and related activities until further notice, saying they will keep monitoring conditions and issue updates.
  • The man-made lake on San Carlos Apache tribal lands, about 125 miles from Phoenix, is a major recreation site with 158 miles of shoreline and stocked trout year-round.

Insights

Is the ecological collapse of San Carlos Lake a grim preview for reservoirs across the American West?
When a lake on tribal land is drained for others, who bears the cost of its recovery?
As drought worsens, can Arizona's century-old water laws prioritize both farms and ecosystems?