San Carlos Lake in Arizona is closed indefinitely after the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department said a fish kill affected approximately 100% of the lake's fish population. The closure covers fishing and other recreational fishing-related activities at the lake on the San Carlos Apache Tribal Lands, about 160 miles east of Phoenix.
The department said Friday, June 5, the lake would remain closed until further notice. Officials attributed the fish kill to drought conditions and water releases from the dam, and warned that decomposing fish could create potential health hazards for visitors entering the area or attempting to fish.
San Carlos Apache Tribal Lands
San Carlos Lake has more than 150 miles of shoreline, making the closure more than a routine access restriction. Officials said fishing, harvesting or possessing fish from the lake is prohibited, along with all recreational fishing-related activities.
The lake had already been under strain weeks earlier. On April 3, the San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department said it had dropped to just 1.93% capacity and was continuing to decline rapidly, at an approximate 0.5% decrease every 10 days.
April 3 warning
On April 3, officials warned that boat launches could soon become unusable and said there was potential for a fish kill before the end of the month. That warning now lines up with the June closure and the near-total loss of fish in the lake.
For people heading to the area, the practical effect is direct: no fishing, no harvesting fish, and no possession of fish from San Carlos Lake while the closure remains in place. The department's warning about decomposing fish also means visitors should avoid treating the shoreline as a normal recreation stop.
