Pecks Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pecks Lake |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
From near Sycamore Canyon Road
|
|
 Pecks Lake
Location in Arizona
Pecks Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Yavapai County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 34°46′54″N 112°02′15″W / 34.78167°N 112.03750°W |
| Type | Reservoir, eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Verde River |
| Primary outflows | Tavasci Marsh |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. depth | 10 feet (3.0 m) |
| Surface elevation | 3,333 feet (1,016 m) |
| Settlements | Clarkdale |
Pecks Lake is a small lake in Arizona, near the town of Clarkdale. It gets its water from the nearby Verde River. The name of a nearby historical site, Tuzigoot National Monument, comes from an Apache word, Tuzigoot. This word means crooked water. It refers to Pecks Lake, which was formed in a bend of the river that got cut off.
The lake is quite shallow. Most of its water comes from the Verde River through a tunnel. This tunnel is located on the northwest side of the lake. Any extra water from Pecks Lake flows over a small dam into Tavasci Marsh. The area around the lake used to have a large copper smelter. The land now includes the former waste area from this smelter.
Contents
History of Pecks Lake
Pecks Lake was first built to provide water for a copper smelter. It also offered fun activities for the people who worked at the smelter. There was a golf course, a dance hall, and a club house near the lake.
For many years, the town of Clarkdale rented the lake. This allowed the public to use it for fishing and other outdoor fun. However, the rental agreement ended in 2003. The company that owned the land then closed Pecks Lake to the public.
Current Lake Conditions
Today, Pecks Lake is becoming eutrophic. This means it has too many nutrients, which causes a lot of aquatic plants to grow. These plants include invasive water lilies and Eurasian milfoil. The lake is home to fish like northern pike, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass. However, it does not have any fish species that are native to the area.
Future of Pecks Lake Land
In 2010, a group called Sustainable Clarkdale suggested an idea. They wanted the town of Clarkdale to buy Pecks Lake and the land around it. This land is about 977-acre (395 ha) and is also known as Verde Valley Ranch.
Clarkdale Sustainability Park Idea
The group thought this land could be used for many projects. These projects included making energy from the sun or other sources. They also suggested ideas for recreation, cleaning water, and business growth. The goal was to do all this with very little harm to the environment. This project was called the Clarkdale Sustainability Park.
Company's View on Land Use
In late 2010, the company that owned the land did not agree to the Sustainability Park plan. They suggested that the land should only be used for recreation and protecting nature. This would be similar to how nearby places like Tuzigoot National Monument are used. Town officials said they would look for another place for the Park. They still hoped the company would let the public own Pecks Lake in the future.
