Lynx Lake will be lowered to 30 feet below full pool over the next few weeks in order to expose the outlet valve of the dam so maintenance work can be performed. The Arizona Game and Fish Department expects repairs to be completed this winter.
Work will begin once the water level is lowered enough to expose the outlet, which is estimated to occur by mid-January. The remaining pool will have a maximum depth of 30 feet and will continue to offer fishing and recreational opportunities.
The shoreline will be muddy and soft and may take several weeks to dry out before shoreline access is available for fishing or paddle craft launching. The end of the boat ramp is out of the water, creating hazardous conditions for vehicles, and launching vessels with vehicles will not be possible.
When full, Lynx Lake spans 55 surface acres. Once it reaches the gate elevation, it will have a surface area of 22 acres. The last time Lynx Lake was lowered to the outlet was in 1974.
Game and Fish is monitoring conditions and does not expect this drawdown to affect the fish in the lake. Visitors are asked to use caution, as the area near the water may be soft and unstable due to saturated soils. Rocks near the water level may also be slippery due to plant life and fine silt particles recently exposed to surface air and not fully dried out.