Lakes Created by Dams: The Hidden Reservoirs of Arizona
In a land shaped by extremes—flood and drought, heat and cold—Arizona’s rivers have long defied predictability. To survive in such a challenging environment, Arizonans turned to engineering innovation, creating a complex system of reservoirs held back by dams. These artificial lakes, many hidden in the folds of mountains or deep within desert valleys, quietly perform some of the most important work in the state—storing water, generating power, and supporting life.
While some of these lakes, like Roosevelt and Havasu, are well-known, others remain less familiar, despite their crucial role in shaping both Arizona’s geography and its future.
Harnessing Rivers in the Desert
Throughout the 20th century, Arizona undertook a series of major dam projects to regulate the seasonal and often violent flows of its rivers. These efforts were led by both federal and state agencies, especially under the guidance of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Salt River Project (SRP).
The strategy was straightforward: capture the runoff from snowmelt and seasonal rains, store it in man-made basins, and release it in controlled amounts for cities, farms, and industry.
The result was a network of dams and reservoirs that now dot the state, each with its own purpose and story—some nestled in forested highlands, others embedded in stark desert canyons.
Key Reservoirs With Quiet Importance
Bartlett Lake, created by the Bartlett Dam on the Verde River in 1939, serves as an important secondary storage reservoir for the Phoenix area. It’s surrounded by saguaro-studded hills and offers recreational opportunities like fishing and boating.
Horseshoe Reservoir, just upstream from Bartlett, is another Verde River dam project, built in 1946. Its smaller size and shallow depth make it a favorite for seasonal wildlife migrations and birdwatchers.
Lyman Lake, in eastern Arizona near Springerville, was built primarily for irrigation and flood control in 1915. It also provides a cool escape in summer months and supports bass and catfish fishing in a high-desert setting.
Saguaro Lake, formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam on the Salt River, lies northeast of Mesa. Created in 1930, this reservoir is part of a chain of four lakes—along with Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, and Theodore Roosevelt Lake—that regulate the Salt River's flow and store precious surface water for the Phoenix metro area.
These and other lesser-known reservoirs quietly fulfill their roles while also offering recreational access to campers, anglers, and water lovers across the state.
Balancing Use With Conservation
While the lakes were primarily built to secure Arizona’s water future, they’ve also become unexpected centers of biodiversity. The surrounding ecosystems support nesting raptors, migratory birds, deer, javelina, and aquatic life. Many lakes are bordered by national forests or wilderness areas, offering both environmental protection and public access.
Still, they are not without challenges. Periods of prolonged drought, reduced snowpack in headwaters, and growing municipal demands put pressure on both the quantity and quality of stored water. Water managers now work with environmental groups and local communities to maintain habitat health, water clarity, and shoreline integrity, especially as climate patterns shift.
Beyond the Surface
Arizona’s dam-created lakes reflect a broader truth about life in the desert Southwest: survival depends on foresight, adaptation, and a deep understanding of water. These reservoirs may not have formed naturally, but they are now deeply woven into Arizona’s cultural and environmental identity.
From forgotten cattle ponds turned public lakes to vast reservoirs stretching into red rock country, each hidden lake tells a story of human determination to carve out stability in an unpredictable world—one drop at a time.