| Rainbow Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Navajo County, Arizona |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Average depth | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Surface elevation | 6,700 ft (2,000 m) |
By damming Walnut Creek in 1903, Mormon settlers created Rainbow Lake. Eventually, the settlement grew into the Town of Lakeside, now incorporated as the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside. Despite now being surrounded by homes, Rainbow Lake remains open to the public for fishing, boating, bird watching or just enjoying the outdoors.
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Rainbow Lake, which is managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is located near the heart of Lakeside at 6,760 feet (2,060 m). The land surrounding the lake is privately owned and inaccessible to the public; however, the Department owns a small parcel of land adjacent to the dam, and maintains it for public fishing and recreational boating.
Rainbow Lake is 116 acres (0.47 km2), and has a maximum depth of 14 feet (4.3 m) and an average depth of 7 feet (2.1 m). Currently, the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocks catchable-sized rainbow trout in the spring and early summer. Naturally propagating warm water species include largemouth bass, channel catfish, black bullhead, bluegill and green sunfish. The lake also contains illegally introduced northern pike. Because it is shallow and weedy, Rainbow Lake is subject to water quality problems.
Some 15 years ago the Show Low Creek Watershed Enhancement Partnership (SLCWEP) was formed. The major effort and focus of this group were the weed issues in Rainbow Lake. Eurasian Milfoil and Coontail had invaded the lake and caused a great deal of problems with clogging of pumps and motors, swimming and a general degradation of the beauty of the area. The main cause of the excessive weed growth was appeared to be nutrients from the former septic systems that had been used around the lake. The weeds did not apepar in all lakes in the area. A grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in 2002 showed that the Best Management Practice (BMP) would be to dredge the lake; however, the costs for this (~$2,000,000) continue to be beyond the ability of the local communities to manage. The introduction of sterile Amur Carp was considered. They are voracious consumers of Eurasian Milfoil. They have been used throughout the Salt River Project system (in the Phoenix area) with great success and had been introduced into the (private) Lake of the Woods, immediately downstream from Rainbow Lake.
Unfortunately, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGF) have an mandated interest in native fish species and were concerned about invasion of other water bodies in the area should the carp escape. Because of the Public Dock on the lake and partial ownership of land by AZGF in the upper reaches of Walnut Creek, this alternative was again far too expensive.
By 2009, the SLCWEP had become moribund. The Little Colorado River Plateau RC&D (RC&D) began meeting with many of the concerned citizens near the lake and the group was rejuvenated. Meeting as the informal Rainbow Lake Coalition, the groups soon began to meet regularly and made plans for incorporation as the Friends of Show Low Creek Watershed.
In the summer of 2010, private fund-raising efforts, along with financial assistance from The Shores at Rainbow Lake (a private homeowners association), Navajo County and the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside raised sufficient funds to treat the lake with a systemic herbicide to kill the Eurasian Milfoil. This was successful; however, the coontail began to grow rapidly.
In May and June 2011, the groups met and decided to use remaining funds for spot treatment of the milfoil and the coontail.
Efforts continue (July 2011) towards incorporation and further efforts to preserve the beauty and recreational uses of Rainbow Lake. A web site (www.rainbow-lake.net) has been created for coordination and cooperation. Donations to the preservation of Rainbow Lake may also be made through PayPal at this website. The Little Coloraro Rievr Palteau RC&D serves as the Fiscal Agent for the group.
Please see the website at [1] for meetings, minutes and other information.