SRP and the Bureau of Reclamation will lower Canyon Lake by 54 feet starting Sept. 16, 2026, for a 16-week dam safety inspection and maintenance project on Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams. Tonto National Forest will close the lake, including all boat ramps and access points, for the full duration.
Salt River · Salt River Project
Canyon Lake
Mormon Flat Dam · 57,852 AF capacity at full pool
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About Canyon
Canyon Lake sits behind Mormon Flat Dam on the Salt River, between Apache Lake upstream and Saguaro Lake downstream. It is the third of four Salt River Project reservoirs along the Salt River.
Mormon Flat Dam was completed in 1925 and is operated by the Salt River Project. Canyon Lake is a popular recreation area for the Phoenix metro and one of the smaller reservoirs in the Salt River chain.
Daily storage and elevation values come from SRP's Daily Water Report. AZMap presents a percent-of-capacity readout.
Recent coverage
Coverage from federal agencies and named news outlets. AZMap is not the publisher.
- Canyon Lake will be closed for 16 weeks starting Sept. 16
- Public Reminder: Canyon Lake Will Be Closed for 16 Weeks Starting Sept. 16 for Safety Inspections and Maintenance
SRP issued a public reminder that Canyon Lake will be closed for 16 weeks beginning Sept. 16, 2026, for critical dam safety inspections on Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams. The lake level will drop 54 feet; all boat ramps and access points in Tonto National Forest will be closed for the duration.
- Canyon Lake drawdown project begins in September
Canyon Lake will drop 54 feet for 16 weeks starting Sept. 16, as SRP and the Bureau of Reclamation conduct their once-every-20-years inspections at Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams. Tonto National Forest will close the lake and all boat ramps; Canyon Lake Marina will relocate slips and boats.
- Canyon Lake Arizona drawdown project
Tonto National Forest confirmed full closure of Canyon Lake, including all boat ramps and access points, starting Sept. 16, 2026, for a 16-week SRP drawdown. The lake level will drop approximately 54 feet for safety inspections and maintenance on Mormon Flat and Horse Mesa dams.
