San Carlos Lake was formed by the construction of the
Coolidge Dam and is rimmed by of shoreline. The
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
is located within the
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, and is thus subject to tribal regulations.
After it was built, the reservoir filled gradually. Because of irrigation needs, the water level at the lake sometimes is low enough to kill its self-sustaining fish, but during wet years, the water can overtop Coolidge Dam. Since construction of the dam, the lake has been nearly empty at least 20 times, and has been full only three times.
[
]
When President
Calvin Coolidge dedicated the new dam in 1930,
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
humorist
Will Rogers looked at the grass in the lake bed, and said, "If this were my lake, I’d mow it."
Recreational use
Fishing, boating and camping
San Carlos Lake is stocked periodically, and after winters with average or above average precipitation, is one of the largest lakes in Arizona. The San Carlos Apache Tribe Recreation and Wildlife Department stocks several species of fish using various methods to improve fishing. Several species are self-sustaining:
*
Sunfish (''Lepomis sp.'')
*
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass (''Micropterus salmoides'') is a carnivorous freshwater gamefish in the Centrarchidae ( sunfish) family, a species of black bass native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico, bu ...
(''Micropterus salmoides'')
* Black
crappie (''Pomoxis nigromaculatus'')
*
Channel catfish (''Ictalurus punctatus'')
*
flathead catfish
The flathead catfish (''Pylodictis olivaris''), also called by several common names including mudcat or shovelhead cat, is a large species of North American freshwater catfish in the family Ictaluridae. It is the only species of the genus '' ...
(''Pylodictis olivaris'')
[
]
The lake has set state records for largemouth bass, black crappie, and flathead catfish.
Other fish are stocked from cold-water fisheries, including
brown trout and
rainbow trout.
Jet-skiing, water skiing, and boating are also allowed. Individuals who are not members of the San Carlos Apache tribe who wish to use the lake must contact the tribal office for a permit, since the lake is on tribal land.
[
Soda Canyon Point Campground is located on the north side of the lake. Since the lake level varies greatly during the summer, visitors are advised to call the San Carlos Apache Recreation and Wildlife Department to determine the current lake level.][
]
References
External links
The American Southwest San Carlos Lake Article
* ttp://www.swtfc.org/tribal_profiles_and_map/san_carlos.htm Southwest Tribal Fisheries Commission - San Carlos Apache Tribe
San Carlos Apache Recreation & Wildlife Department
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