• Source: Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Lake Pleasant Regional Park is a large outdoors recreation area straddling the Maricopa and Yavapai county border northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. The park is located within the municipal boundaries of Peoria, Arizona, and serves as a major recreation hub for the northwest Phoenix metropolitan area. It is operated by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department.




Lake Pleasant


The cornerstone of the park is the 10,000-acre (16 sq mi; 40 km2), Lake Pleasant, one of the important artificial reservoirs surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area. Created by the Maricopa Water District's Carl Pleasant Dam, which was finished in 1927, and upon completion, was the largest multi-arch dam in the world. The lake originally had a surface area of 3,700 acres (5.8 sq mi; 15 km2) and served as a private irrigation project. At 76 ft (23 m) high and 2,160 ft (660 m) long, the original Carl Pleasant Dam was, at its completion, the largest agricultural dam project in the world. The lake was filled by the Agua Fria River, capturing a large watershed throughout Yavapai County.
Construction of the United States Bureau of Reclamation's Central Arizona Project Aqueduct, which began in 1973, soon diverted water from the Colorado River to the lake, converting the lake from an agricultural project into a storage reservoir for the project. Completed in 1994, the New Waddell Dam tripled the surface area of the lake, submerging the old dam beneath its waters. Shortly after the completion of the dam, the area experienced a prolonged drought, and while the lake grew considerably it would not reach full capacity until early 2005. Although still fed by the Agua Fria River, the CAP aqueduct is the primary source of water for the reservoir.
Lake Pleasant is used as a major water sports recreation center for the Phoenix metro area, as well as serving as an important storage reservoir for the rapidly growing region. A number of boat docks and beach access make the lake a popular destination for scuba diving, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing and other water sports.
The lake has been plagued by deaths over the years, and state authorities have from time to time called for caution at Lake Pleasant because of deep water, or carbon monoxide from heavy boat traffic.
Lake Pleasant Fish Species

Threadfin Shad
Bluegill
Redear Sunfish
Green Sunfish
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
White Bass
Striped Bass
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Common Carp
Tilapia
Potential Fish Species

Sucker
Gizzard Shad
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Rainbow Trout
Blue Catfish
Bullhead
Goldfish
Buffalo
Potential Aquarium Released Species

Peacock Bass
Arowana
Cichlids
Pacu
Rocket Gar
Ripsaw Catfish
Bala Shark
Colombian Shark
Iridescent Shark
Rainbow Shark
Red Tail Shark
Silver Apollo Shark




Other uses



The park covers a total of over 23,000 acres (93 km2) of mountainous desert landscape, including the lake, and boasts a number of other recreational activities, such as mountain biking, camping, and hiking. The park also has an educational visitors' center that provides information regarding the history of the lake, the construction of the Waddell Dam and the surrounding areas.
The presence of the lake has also attracted other recreational activities in the area, such as a dirt racetrack and a large glider school/airport.
The rapidly growing city of Peoria has annexed the park and surrounding lands with an eye on future development, though 2007–2008 economic downturn has brought a temporary halt to its plans. Economy aside, the increasing popularity of the area is evidenced by rapidly growing subdivisions to the south, such as Vistancia, and skyrocketing real estate values, the city has zoned much of the land in the immediate vicinity for future use of both high-end waterfront residential neighborhoods and commercial opportunities off of Lake Pleasant Parkway and the Carefree Highway. Several plans also call for potentially expanding the existing airstrip to be expanded into a regional airport.




Annual events


Lake Pleasant Paddle Fest is a full day event featuring different paddle craft and fun activities.
Bill Luke Bass Days is a day and night time festival taking place at Lake Pleasant Marina featuring carnival rides, cornhole tournament, wildlife exhibits, vendors, food and live music.




Transportation


The area was served by Pleasant Valley Airport, located 3 miles away. Plans to start commercial service to the airport, including from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, were unsuccessful.
Several roads connect the area to Phoenix's main freeway systems. The Carefree Highway is the main road to the lake, other freeways near by connecting the lake to the rest of the Phoenix metropolitan area are the Loop 303 and I-17.




Gallery


The following pictures are of some of the scenery at Lake Pleasant Regional Park and the ruins of a thousand year old Hohokam Puebloans village.

































































See also


Bradshaw Mountains
Castle Hot Springs (Arizona)
Hells Canyon Wilderness (Arizona)
Hieroglyphic Mountains
Indian Mesa
Lake Pleasant Camp
Maricopa Trail




External links


Lake Pleasant Regional Park Website
Pleasant Harbor - Maricopa Water District
Lake Pleasant - Central Arizona Project
Arizona Boating Locations Facilities Map
Lake Pleasant Arizona Recreation
Arizona Game & Fish – Fishing Locations
Video of Lake Pleasant




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Daftar rumah sakit di California
• John F. Kennedy
• Daftar julukan kota di Amerika Serikat
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
• Portland, Oregon
• Jaringan Nasional
• Lake Pleasant Regional Park
• Lake Pleasant
• Area code 928
• Pleasant Valley Airport
• Arizona State Route 74
• Indian Mesa
• List of lakes of Arizona
• New River, Arizona
• Maricopa County, Arizona
• Maricopa County Sheriff's Office