Tempe Town Lake has reopened for all boating activities, city officials said Monday afternoon.

Boating had been suspended last week due to increases in Salt River Project’s releases from Verde River reservoirs. The releases brought additional debris into the lake, forcing the suspension.

“Water recreation activities can now resume as the amount of water being released from SRP reservoirs has slowed, and debris flow has decreased,” city officials said in a release Monday, March 27.

A temporary buoy line has been installed about 500 feet upstream of the lake dam, and officials said lake users should not cross buoy lines as runoff season water continues to enter the lake.

“Although Tempe staff may be performing necessary operations in the area between the two buoy lines and up to the pedestrian bridge, these areas remain closed to the public,” officials said.

“Staff will continue to monitor lake debris and flows to ensure safety as SRP flows subside.”
 
Inflows from the SRP system are a routine and seasonal event, and the dam continues to operate normally and handle the flows, according to the release.