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Car show, hot dogs at Canyon Lake reopening
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An aerial view of Canyon Lake. FILE PHOTO
Boaters enjoy Canyon Lake in this Sept. 11, 2005, file photo.
Darryl Webb, Tribune
Traffic has been slow at Canyon Lake since Salt River Project drained the reservoir this fall, but Tonto National Forest officials hope to turn things around this weekend with a grand reopening celebration.
“A lot of users want to get back on the lake,” said Daniel Bray with the Mesa Ranger District. “People are looking for an excuse to come out and enjoy the warm weather.”
The event will include a car show, a Dutch oven cooking event and free hot dogs for the first 200 people.
Canyon Lake closed in September for maintenance work, and the reservoir was at 30 percent capacity in January. When the lake opened on Feb. 9, boaters were warned to remain cautious in the lake’s murky waters after the recent rainfall.
The lake will be at 95 percent capacity on Saturday, and the water will be clearer. But Bray said boaters should still be cautious.
“The larger debris has subsidized,” Bray said. “So now there is just dirty water.”
He said boaters have been slow to make their move back to the lake. Fishermen have returned, but with no luck due to the lake’s conditions, Bray said.
“Fishing will improve once the water gets warmer,” he said. “And it should clear up once people start waterskiing on it again.”
The Dolly Steamboat has also been out of commission since the lake closed for the renovations.
“Winter is our busy time,” said Dolly Kennedy, the spokeswoman and former owner of the steamboat.
She said the closing of the lake was hard for everyone involved with the steamboat, but things have improved in recent weeks.
“People have been so great and encouraging,” Kennedy said.
The Dolly Steamboat has undergone renovations during its time out of the water and will make its debut at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Canyon Lake reopening
What: Activities and displays will include a helicopter from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and a water-safety booth from Salt River Project. There will also be Dutch oven cooking celebrations, free hot dogs for the first 200 people at the Lakeside Restaurant and a car club exhibit by Desert Kustoms.
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: About 12 miles northeast of U.S. 60 on state Route 88.
Information: www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto
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