Canyon Lake to close on Sept. 8 for months to complete safety inspections, maintenance

Canyon Lake, a popular reservoir about 45 minutes east of Phoenix, will be closed to visitors for a little over four months beginning on Sept. 8.

The lake, including all boat ramps and access points, will close for eight days to prepare for the drawdown project, which will begin on Sept. 16.

The area’s closure has been scheduled for Salt River Project and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to address water levels at the Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams and a river channel downstream of Horse Mesa Dam, according to a news release.

The lake’s level will be lowered by about 54 feet over the approximate 16 weeks. The exact same process was done in 1987 and 2007. This action will enforce flood control and operational safety of the dam, ensure water reliability and allow for necessary maintenance on the lake’s facilities.

All water that is lowered will be stored in surrounding reservoirs while work is being done.

Details, effects of Canyon Lake closure in fall

The project’s timeline is as follows:

• Four weeks of lowering the water level
• Eight weeks for the lake and dam inspection
• Maintenance work will follow the inspection
• The final four weeks will be spent refilling the lake back to normal level

The refilling process of the lake will be conducted with water from reservoirs located upstream.

SRP customers’ water delivery will not be impacted.

The lake in central Arizona contains more than 57,000 acre-feet of water, which is enough to provide around 173,000 Arizona families water for a year, according to SRP.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Douglas Santo contributed to this report.

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