Lee Valley Lake | |
Location: | Apache County, Arizona |
Coords: | 33.9412°N -109.5009°W |
Type: | Reservoir |
Pushpin Map: | Arizona |
Basin Countries: | United States |
Area: | 35acres |
Depth: | 10feet |
Max-Depth: | 20feet |
Elevation: | 9420feet |
Lee Valley Lake is Arizona's highest elevation reservoir, situated at 9420feet in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests near Mount Baldy. It is located approximately 35 miles from Pinetop-Lakeside, connected by Arizona highways 260 and 273 and forest road 113. Access is restricted in the winter when roads are closed due to snow, generally December to early April.
Lee Valley Lake has 35acres with a maximum depth of 20feet and an average depth of 10feet. It is located on Lee Valley Creek, an Apache trout recovery stream. The Apache trout is the Arizona state fish. The creek naturally flows into the East Fork of the Little Colorado River; however, the spillway directs overflow to the West Fork of the Little Colorado River. Both streams are also designated for Apache trout recovery, thus Lee Valley Lake finds itself at the heart of three Apache trout recovery streams and is managed accordingly.