Tempe Town Lake has officially called a timeout. And this time, it’s not just the beavers causing trouble.
After historic water releases sent a raging torrent of debris, displaced wildlife and potentially dangerous bacteria into the lake, Tempe officials are keeping boating, fishing and all water recreation on ice until further notice.
According to Salt River Project (SRP), flooding along the Salt and Verde rivers reached levels not seen since 1993, years before Tempe Town Lake even existed.
The numbers are jaw-dropping. Recent inflows into the Salt and Verde watershed were approximately eight times greater than average, making this a record-breaking water event.
And Mother Nature didn’t exactly travel light. Full-sized trees were knocked down, abandoned boats went sailing over the dam, and several feet of sand vanished from Town Lake’s Boat Beach.
Unfortunately, the floodwaters also delivered something considerably less entertaining: bacteria, including E. coli.
“Monthly water quality averages at Tempe Town Lake typically pass surface water standards with flying colors. Runoff like this, especially record runoffs from two rivers, brings with it everything from upstream. It will take time for that water to pass and the bacteria level to reduce below the event threshold.” said Dr. Rick Amalfi of Aquatic Consulting.
Translation? The lake needs time to flush out the unwanted guests before anyone gets back in the water.
For now, rowing, kayaking, paddleboarding, pedal boating, fishing and other water activities are strictly off-limits. Boat rentals are also shut down, and both people and pets should steer clear of the water.
The closure is even making waves in competitive sports. Sunday’s Collegiate National Triathlon Championships will ditch the swimming portion and proceed as a duathlon instead.
The good news? Landlubbers can still enjoy the lake’s shoreline. Walking, jogging and biking remain unaffected.
As for the lake itself, there’s no official reopening date. Water quality will determine when the aquatic playground gets back to business.
Insider Takeaways:
- Lake on lockdown: Tempe Town Lake remains closed to boating, fishing and all water sports until further notice.
- A historic soaking: Salt River Project reports the biggest flooding on the Salt and Verde rivers since 1993, with inflows roughly eight times the average.
- Unwanted passengers: Tempe park rangers are still trying to round up a few wayward beavers and possibly another muskrat or two swept into the lake.
- Triathlon twist: The Collegiate National Triathlon Championships will swap swimming for running, turning Sunday’s competition into a duathlon.
- Dry land is fair game: Walking, biking and other shoreline activities remain open.
Contact Tempe 311 or call at 480-350-4311 for additional information.
