Theodore Roosevelt Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Theodore Roosevelt Lake
image_lake = Roosevelt Lake5.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Arizona
coords = coord|33|40|18|N|111|09|40|W|type:waterbody_region:US-AZ_source:gnis|display=inline,title [GNIS|42942|Theodore Roosevelt Damaccessdate|2008-05-05]
type = reservoir
inflow = Salt River, Tonto Creek
outflow =
catchment = 5,830 mi² (15,099 km²)
basin_countries = United States
length = 22.4 mi (35.8 km)
width = 2 mi (3.2 km)
area = 21,493 acres (86.98 km²)
depth =
max-depth = 249 ft (75 m)
volume = convert|1653043|acre.ft|km3|abbr=on|lk=on at full capacity
residence_time =
shore = 128 mi (205 m)
elevation = 2,094 ft (628 m)
islands =
cities =

Theodore Roosevelt Lake (usually called Roosevelt Lake, sometimes Lake Roosevelt) is a large artificial reservoir formed by Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River in Arizona as part of the Salt River Project (SRP). Located roughly 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Phoenix in the Salt River Valley, Theodore Roosevelt is the largest lake or reservoir located entirely within the state of Arizona (Lake Mead and Lake Powell are larger but both are located partially within the neighboring states of Nevada and Utah respectively). Both the reservoir and the masonry dam that created it, Roosevelt Dam, were named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt who dedicated the dam himself in March 1911. Roosevelt Lake is a popular recreation destination within the Tonto National Forest, as such the facilities located at this lake are managed by that authority.

Roosevelt Lake is the oldest of the six reservoirs constructed and operated by the Salt River Project. It also has the largest storage capacity of the SRP lakes with the ability to store 1,653,043 acre feet (2.03900 km³) of water at full capacity.

Geography

Roosevelt Lake is located in central Arizona almost entirely within Gila County although a small portion lies in Maricopa County. Located about 4 miles (6 km) upstream from Apache Lake (the next SRP reservoir on the Salt River), Roosevelt Lake occupies about 10 miles (16 km) of the original Salt River riverbed and also extends for about 8 miles (13 km) up Tonto Creek, a significant tributary of the Salt with its headwaters along the Mogollon Rim. The lake covers much of the southern portion of the Tonto Basin, a low lying area between the Sierra Ancha Mountains, Mazatzal Mountains (including Four Peaks), and the Superstition Mountains. State Route 188 travels along the shore of the lake for much of its length. Tonto National Monument is located 4 miles (6 km) from Roosevelt Dam, parts of the monument provide views of much of the reservoir.

Recreation and wildlife

Fishing is a common recreational activity at Roosevelt Lake. The lake is home to a variety of game fish including crappie, carp, Sunfish, flathead and channel catfish, and smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. There is a slot size limit for the bass.

Until recently, it also hosted the state's most significant population of the federally endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Since the lake's rise following heavy rains in the winter of 2005, the population dynamics between this site and the other significant Arizona population (on the San Pedro River) are unclear.

There are several Arizona Trail trailheads in the vicinity. The 800 mile (1,280 km) long hiking trail extending from the Arizona-Mexico border to Utah crosses the Salt River on the State Route 188 bridge that crosses Theodore Roosevelt Lake just northeast of Roosevelt Dam.

=Boating facility features [Citation |first=Information and Education Division|title=Arizona Fishin' Holes|place=Phoenix, AZ|publisher=Arizona Game and Fish Department|year=2007] =

* Paved or gravel access
* Boats to rent
* Motors to rent
* Licenses for sale
* Groceries
* Gas and oil
* Tackle and equipment
* Live bait fish
* Restaurants
* Lodging
* Swimming
* Any motor size
* Launching area
* Waterskiing
* Parking area with trailer spaces
* Tables
* Drinking water
* Handicap barrier free
* Restrooms
* Camping allowed

External links

* [http://www.apachetrail.net Roosevelt Dam: Brief History]
* [http://www.srpnet.com/water/dams/roosevelt.aspx Salt River Project:Roosevelt Dam]
* [http://www.srpwater.com/dwr/ Daily Water level Report from SRP]
* [http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/BoatingLocationsMap.shtml Arizona Boating Locations Facilities Map]
* [http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/FishingLocationsMap.shtml Arizona Fishing Locations Map]
* [http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/where_fish.shtml Where to Fish in Arizona Species Information]
* [http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/edits/lake_levels.shtml Arizona Lake Levels]
* [http://www.azgfd.gov/video/RooseveltLake.shtml Video of Roosevelt Lake, Arizona]

References

*cite web|publisher=Official Apache Trail Website|url=http://www.apachetrail.net|title=Roosevelt Dam - Apache Trail, Arizona
*cite web|publisher=Salt River Project|url=http://www.srpnet.com/water/dams/roosevelt.aspx|title=Roosevelt Dam|accessdate=2006-12-15
*cite web|publisher=United States Geological Survey|url=Gnis3|42942|title=Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report:Theodore Roosevelt Lake|accessdate=2006-12-15
*cite web|publisher=Recreation.gov|url=http://www.recreation.gov/detail.jsp?ID=8|title=Theodore Roosevelt Lake|accessdate=2006-12-15
*cite web|publisher=Unites States Forest Service, Tonto National Forest|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/boating/LB-ROGs/tontobasin/RooseveltLake.pdf |title=Tonto National Forest--Recreation Opportunity Guide: Roosevelt Lake|accessdate=2006-12-15