Tempe Town Lake closed to fishing due to E. coli concerns

Tempe Town Lake will remain closed to all boating — and now fishing — activities after record flooding caused water quality concerns, the City of Tempe announced.

The lake initially closed on Sunday out of an abundance of caution as the Salt River Project released water from several regional reservoirs, which increased water flow through the lake, raising the potential for debris.

The dam at Tempe Town Lake is operating as designed to allow water to flow through the lake, but the increased water flows with debris bring bacteria concerns — including E. coli. As a result, fishing was restricted despite it still being allowed when the lake was initially closed. All on-water activities had been closed since Sunday.

“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,” Dr. Rick Amalfi of Aquatic Consulting said in a press release.

The water has downed full-sized trees, sent abandoned boats over the dam and eroded several feet of sand from Tempe Town Lake’s Boat Beach. Several beavers and muskrats washed downstream and ended up needing rescue at the lake.

Additionally, the Collegiate National Triathlon Championships, scheduled to take place on Sunday at Tempe Town Lake, will now move forward as a duathlon, according to the city.

Shore activities like walking and biking are unaffected.

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