Peña Blanca Lake

Peña Blanca Lake is a reservoir in Arizona, United States, located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Nogales.[1] The facilities are maintained by the Coronado National Forest division of the USDA Forest Service. The lake was created in 1957 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.Back then this lake was known for a plush resort that was located there.[2] In 2008, the lake was closed to clean mercury contamination within the sediment, thought to be from old mines in the area. Also the former plush resort was removed as well.[3] The lake was reopened in August 2009.[4] In 2013, an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality report showed that mercury levels were similar to those before the lake was drained and dredged. One potential cause for the high mercury could be naturally occurring mercury seeping through the faults or a spring in the lake, though these claims are still under investigation.[5]

Peña Blanca Lake
Peña Blanca Lake is located in Arizona
Peña Blanca Lake
Peña Blanca Lake
LocationSanta Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Coordinates31°24′1″N 111°5′16″W
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsPeña Blanca Wash
Primary outflowsPeña Blanca Wash
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area45 acres (18 ha)
Max. depth65 ft (20 m)
Surface elevation3,819 ft (1,164 m)

Fish species

Before Peña Blanca Lake was drained the fish population consisted of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, green sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish, and black bullhead. Stocked rainbow trout could be found in the lake as well. Today the fish species that inhabit the lake are channel catfish, yellow bullhead, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, and redear sunfish. Stocked rainbow trout are stocked from October to March about once a month unless water quality is poor. Crayfish are also present.[6]

References
  1. "Coronado National Forest – Pena Blanca Lake". USDA Forest Service.
  2. "Coronado National Forest – Pena Blanca Lake".
  3. "Pena Blanca Lake Closed Indefinitely". www.kold.com. 11 October 2008.
  4. Kreutz, Doug (17 November 2010). "Peña Blanca Lake features more trout, new boat ramp". Arizona Daily Star.
  5. International, Murphy Woodhouse Nogales (13 August 2015). "Hunt is on for source of mercury at Peña Blanca Lake". Nogales International.
  6. https://www.fws.gov/southwest/federal_assistance/pdfs/chapter%2010%20santa%20cruz%20river%20watershed.pdf
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