Arizona's unnatural lakes and rivers

The area of mountains and desert enclosed by the present political boundary of the State of Arizona has almost no natural lakes. The only lakes that existed historically as natural occurring bodies include Mormon Lake which is intermittently completely dry, Stoneman Lake and maybe a few more. It is very difficult to determine which of the lakes really existed before stockmen and ranchers began making catchment basins and other small ponds. Most lakes have an obvious dam and are and were not naturally occurring. In reality, many of the so-called lakes are really tiny ponds only a few dozen feet across. At least one guide lists 81 lakes. Another list has about 127 lakes but includes many metropolitan Phoenix urban lakes.

Some of the lakes, like Montezma Well, a part of Montezuma Castle National Monument is a limestone sink hole with a spring fed pond. Other's like Jacob Lake, on the Kaibab Plateau, are little more than over sized puddles. It is definitely a myth that Arizona has more boats per capita than any other state, but it is interesting to drive through the desert and see trucks and cars pulling boats on trailers.

Growing up in Phoenix, I spent a considerable time water skiing on the Salt River Lakes north and east of the Salt Rive Valley. The four large lakes starting from the one closest to Phoenix are Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake. They are all reservoirs with very large dams. I have also spent time kayaking on all four. Sitting in a kayak is a very relaxing way to watch the beautiful Sonora Desert and observe the wildlife including desert mountain sheep, wild horses, eagles, egrets and a huge variety of water and shore birds.

Living in the desert most of my life has given an active appreciation for water in all its forms and all of its natural manifestations. Even if the water behind the dams is sometime brown and silt filled, it is still cool and wet and a great relief from the heat of the sun.