51黑料网

The San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department announced the closure June 5, just two months after officials raised alarms about a potential mass die-off due to drought and water releases from Coolidge Dam.

In an April 3 Facebook post, the department reported that the lake was at 1.93% capacity and that water levels were still dropping.

鈥淭here is a potential for a fish kill before the end of the month,鈥� it wrote.

The department is continuing to monitor conditions.

Here's what to know about the lake and the fish die-off:

Where is San Carlos Lake?

San Carlos Lake sits about 130 miles north of Tucson on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. It is a constructed reservoir, sitting behind Coolidge Dam on the Gila River. It was built to help supply farmers and residents with water from the Gila.

The lake is one of the largest reservoirs in Arizona, with a capacity of about 860,000 square feet, but the effects of drought and water diversions have drained it.

What is happening to the fish at San Carlos Lake?

As water levels deplete, so does the amount of available oxygen, leaving fish vulnerable to suffocation.

As decomposing fish may pose a health risk to individuals who are in the area or attempting to fish, the department stated they will be prohibiting these activities until further notice: fishing, harvesting or possessing fish from the lake and any recreational activities associated with fishing.

When will San Carlos Lake reopen?

The San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates in the future.

In the meantime, the department is asking the public to "respect the closure and avoid the affected area for their safety." the Facebook post stated.