Peña Blanca Lake Explained

Peña Blanca Lake
Coords:31.4003°N -111.0878°W
Inflow:Peña Blanca Wash
Pushpin Map:Arizona
Outflow:Peña Blanca Wash
Basin Countries:United States
Area:45acres
Max-Depth:65feet
Elevation:3819feet

Peña Blanca Lake is a reservoir in Arizona, United States, located 18miles 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]

History

In the 1730s, Juan Bautista de Anza established Sicurisuta Ranch by the lake.[6]

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.[7]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coronado National Forest – Pena Blanca Lake. USDA Forest Service.
  2. Web site: Coronado National Forest – Pena Blanca Lake.
  3. Web site: Pena Blanca Lake Closed Indefinitely. www.kold.com. 11 October 2008 .
  4. Web site: Peña Blanca Lake features more trout, new boat ramp. Doug . Kreutz . Arizona Daily Star. 17 November 2010 .
  5. Web site: Hunt is on for source of mercury at Peña Blanca Lake. Murphy Woodhouse Nogales. International. Nogales International. 13 August 2015 .
  6. Web site: Ranches . www.nps.gov . National Park Service . 22 May 2024 . en.
  7. Biological Assessment of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s January 2011 Statewide and Urban Fisheries Stocking Program. Chapter 10 Santa Cruz River Watershed. Arizona Game and Fish Department. January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226200216/https://www.fws.gov/SOUTHWEST/federal_assistance/PDFs/Chapter%2010%20Santa%20Cruz%20River%20Watershed.pdf. 2017-02-26. 2024-08-14.