The damn is again deflated due to run off from the Verde River watershed. From the USGS website:
VERDE RIVER BLW BARTLETT DAM, AZ. 01/26 16:50 10.38 10,400 276
Thats 10,400 cfs being released down on its way Tempe Town Lake (276 is the average for this time)! All three reservoirs are full (Horseshoe,Bartlett and Steward Mtn) with better than average snowfall up in central AZ. The lake already looks like chocolate milk! Saguaro Lake anyone?!?
worried? no, but I am always an optimist. The race is nearly 3 months away.
I´ve been running on snow for weeks and my bike hasn´t seen the road in 3 months…that is worrying me 
Axel
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thats not a lake, it’s a swamp that happens to be flowing. At least the algea won’t be 2 feet thick on the ramp when we run up. Too bad, shag carpets are way cool.
I ran over the lake on the Mill Ave bridge for the Rock & Roll Half Marathon…I would be more worried about what you are going to smell like after swimming in that thing for an hour.
My brother did a couple of the Splash and Dash events that they have there, and said he stunk the whole time from swimming in that “lake”.
Can’t imagine smelling sweet stench for 12+ hours during the IM!
-bcreager
Yeah, I’m really worried about how I might smell during an Ironman. Fortunately, I usually pee all over myself shortly into the bike, that should wash some of the stink from the lake off. Then I vomit at the start of the run, which will take care of masking any lingering odors.
Take it from someone who has drank more than his share of water from that lake, it may be a little cloudy but it is fine otherwise. A lot of setiment got washed into the river due to the long delay we’ve had since so much rainfall, but it will be back to normal long before the IM. It will be much more drinkable than any saltwater events, although visibility can make drafting harder.
I did note that they are doing some sort of irrigation installation on the north side of the lake. The section west of Mill Avenue is blocked off with a sign saying closed until July 3rd. That may require a small change in the run route as I think they had planned to go that way for a small dogleg.
For those of you swimming more than 60 min. Have a good look at this link…
I have been in the lake many times and it most definitely does not smell bad. It is a lot nicer to swim in than many other places I have swam (such as the Schukill in Philly). The water is from the Salt River and is also pumped from underground so assuming there is no rain during the period before IMAZ the lake will be a fine. OTOH, if it rains hard a few days before the race there could be real problems.
Now that I think about it, it did pour down the couple of days before my 1/2, maybe that’s why it was so stinky! Phoenix in April though, should be perfect weather (with no rain) for IM. Just don’t do one in August during mansoon season…hmmmmm, August IMAZ could give IMH a run for is money on the toughness meter
-bcreager
The lake does smell a bit but I don’t find it offensive. Most freshwater lakes have some sort of smell depending on the minerals in the water. (you have probably been to Firebird Lake - it is way nicer than that lake to swim in).
Now sure Firbird lake is even water anymore ;o). Growing up in Phx we had a family friend that use to dive there doing salvage work…he said it was like diving in a lake of gas and oil. That was many years ago though. Do they still do they jet boat races out there?
-bcreager
I don’t know about jet boats. I do a triathlon there every year and the only thing I notice about the water is the extremely high salt and calcium content. I have never seen oil or gas in the water.
Just as long as they lower the rubber damns AFTER I make the turn!!!
Thats like Lake Minneola out front of my shack here in Clermont…when you pee in it…I have heard it actually makes the lake cleaner!
Rememeber, there are two types of triathletes out there…those who pee in their wetsuit…and those who lie about peeing in their wetsuit.
For those of you swimming more than 60 min. Have a good look at this link…
http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Schistosomiasis.htm
Geographic Distribution:
Schistosoma mansoni is found in parts of South America and the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East; S. haematobium in Africa and the Middle East; and S. japonicum in the Far East. Schistosoma mekongi and S. intercalatum are found focally in Southeast Asia and central West Africa, respectively
and… what has that to do with swimming longer than 60 minutes?
Axel