Blue Ridge Reservoir

[Non-Typical Solutions]

Does anybody have any fishing stories/experience fishing this lake? Just did a half day trip over there to check it out, beautiful lake, lots of kayakers floating around!!!

[Roosevelt Mark]

We used to fish it alot 25 years ago. Always trolled cow bells with a crawler by the dam. Nice browns and bows. Like anything else, I don't think it is what it used to be.

[wildwoody]

Exactly what he said..

[654321]

C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir

SRP acquired C.C. Cragin (formerly Blue Ridge) Reservoir from Phelps Dodge Corporation in February 2005 as part of the Gila River Indian Water Rights settlement approved by the Arizona Water Settlements Act. The agreement settled water rights issues and allowed for the transfer of C.C. Cragin Reservoir from Phelps Dodge to SRP.

The C.C. Cragin project consists of a number of facilities , including electrical transmission line, and a generating plant. The majority of the project is located in the Coconino and Tonto national forests.

In addition to satisfying obligations to the Gila River Indian Community, C.C. Cragin will be used to supplement SRP shareholders' water supply and to assist in improving the water supply situation in northern Gila County in accordance with the Arizona Water Settlements Act.

Restoring the C.C. Cragin Watersheds

The C.C. Cragin watershed is listed as a priority watershed within the Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership and is a critical water supply for the town of Payson, communities in northern Gila County and SRP shareholders.

SRP, together with the Town of Payson, the National Forest Foundation, Coconino National Forest and the Bureau of Reclamation, launched an initiative in 2014 to accelerate the restoration of forest lands that feed C.C. Cragin Reservoir.

The initiative, the Cragin Watershed Protection Project (CWPP) , was designed to reduce the risk of wildfire and the ensuing impacts to water supplies, air quality, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. The environmental assessment performed as part of the CWPP focused on approximately 64,000 acres of land surrounding C.C. Cragin Reservoir, which include the three watersheds that drain into it: East Clear Creek, Bear Canyon and Miller Canyon.

The environmental assessment was completed in 2018 with approximately 37,000 acres within the assessment area identified to begin wildfire remediation efforts, which includes strategic thinning. The decision notice , with these outcomes described, for the CWPP was published in July 2018. SRP is working with the Forest Service and partners to accelerate strategic thinning in the CWPP area.

History

In order to meet its need for additional water, Phelps Dodge built Show Low Lake in 1952 and C.C. Cragin Reservoir in 1965. Phelps Dodge and SRP entered a water-exchange agreement in 1962 to cover diversions and exchanges of water from these facilities.

This agreement confirmed each party's respective water rights in the watersheds of the Salt, Verde and Gila rivers. In addition, it provided SRP with the opportunity to acquire C.C. Cragin Reservoir and its water production facilities — fulfilling Phelps Dodge's obligations under the 1962 agreement to offer the reservoir to SRP.

Phelps Dodge and SRP agreed that if SRP acquired the reservoir, a portion of the water would be delivered to the Gila River Indian Community as part of the Comprehensive Gila River Settlement. C.C. Cragin Reservoir, with a storage capacity of 15,000 acre-feet, is in Coconino County about 25 miles north of Payson near Clints Well atop the Mogollon Rim in the Coconino National Forest.

-------- Update 4/7/2020 --------
Pumping from the C. C. Cragin Reservoir into the East Verde River is scheduled to begin April 7, 2020. Pumping from C.C. Cragin Reservoir is expected to continue through December 2020.

C.C. Cragin Operations and Maintenance Update

The C.C. Cragin project consists of a number of facilities, including a dam and reservoir, diversion tunnel and pump shaft, pumping plant, priming reservoir, pipeline, electrical transmission line, and a generating plant. Water is pumped from the reservoir to the East Verde River via the pumping plant and related facilities. SRP pumps water at a maximum rate of 35 cubic feet per second from the reservoir during the summer for deliveries to SRP shareholders and, in the future, to Payson and other Northern Gila County communities. The majority of the project is located in the Coconino and Tonto national forests.

SRP acquired Blue Ridge Reservoir from Phelps Dodge Corp. in February 2005 as part of the Gila River Indian Water Rights Settlement approved by the Arizona Water Settlement Act. The reservoir and dam were renamed C.C. Cragin at that time as a tribute to an early SRP hydrologic engineer. The settlement act resolved various water rights issues and allowed for the transfer of the reservoir to SRP from Phelps Dodge, which built Cragin Dam in 1965 for the purpose of collecting water to deliver to the Verde River as a water-exchange settlement with SRP. In addition to satisfying obligations to the Gila River Indian Community, Cragin is used to supplement SRP shareholders' water supply and to assist in improving the water supply situation in Payson and northern Gila County in accordance with the Arizona Water Settlements Act. SRP transferred ownership of the Cragin facilities to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, but continues to serve as operator of the system.

Just a little history on the lake.  The last 2-3 years the lake has been drained to work on the stuff pictured above and then refills after the winter.  The boat ramp has also been much improved in the last few years. 

[rcdinaz]

Same deal, 25 years ago we used to go every year and hike down and fish from shore.  The fish were usually bigger and healthier than the other lakes we fished.  We fished with boats a fees times cowbells and dare devils.  

[dcshorthairs]

We head up with the family and my boys usually tear up the smaller rainbows with rapalas. It’s nice if you get there early and head up the lake to get away from everyone. We are heading up this Friday to fish. Never caught any huge ones but always have a great time

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

I know most people dint know that there’s a pipeline running down all the way off the rim from that lake. 

[Spot]

I read today that the reservoir is closed due to a drowning.

[PRDATR]

C.C. Cragin Reservoir (aka Blue Ridge Reservoir) is closed until further notice due to a suspected drowning. You can always check the status of the reservoir and other recreation sites on the Forest at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/coconino/recreation

[Hunterjohnny]

51 minutes ago, MULEPACKHUNTER said:

I know most people dint know that there’s a pipeline running down all the way off the rim from that lake. 

Grew up fishing from the pump house by Washington Park on down to the third crossing.  My folks still have a place there.  Did you know they ran that pipe to Payson?

[Swivelhead]

1 hour ago, MULEPACKHUNTER said:

I know most people dint know that there’s a pipeline running down all the way off the rim from that lake. 

Blue Ridge Resevoir and the pipeline were constructed to replace water taken out of the Salt/Verde watershed at the Black River Pump station.  Water from Blue Ridge Reservoir is dumped into the East Verde.  The water diverted at the BR pump station is used for the Clifton/Morenci mine.  Likely a heavily litigated water rights issue.  IIRC, the copper @ Morenci was considered critical for the WW2 war effort.  I'm a little foggy on the details, others may have more specific information.

[dcshorthairs]

Thanks for the info on the drowning. Hope there is some closure for those affected. 

[wildwoody]

6 hours ago, Hunterjohnny said:

Grew up fishing from the pump house by Washington Park on down to the third crossing.  My folks still have a place there.  Did you know they ran that pipe to Payson?

Really, we may have met, I know exactly what your explaining. Yes goes to Payson and gas been pump for about 6 months now..

[Sam]

Like others - we used to fish it in the 80s. Always did really well. All of the rim lakes had great fishing back then and few crowds. Mostly would drift a fly. 

[wendt]

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Sgt. Aaron Dick

Date: June 23, 2020

Phone: 928-226-5050

SUBJECT:

Drowning victim recovered at Blue Ridge Reservoir

On June 21, 2020,

At 6:07pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Blue Ridge Fire District responded to the Blue Ridge Reservoir, also known as C.C. Cragin Reservoir, for a report of a swimmer who had gone under water near the boat ramp and never resurfaced.

A search of the immediate area was conducted using bystanders’ boats, but the subject was not located. Search operations were suspended as it began to get dark and a plan was developed for an underwater search on the morning of June 22.

On June 22 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Tonto Rim Search and Rescue to conduct an underwater search. As part of the search a Search and Rescue dog trained in human remains detection in water was used to confirm the area to search. Divers searched an area indicated by the search dog and located the missing subject at approximately 11:30am.

The subject, 32-year-old Austin Smith of Payson, was recovered from the lake and transferred to the custody of the Coconino County Office of the Medical Examiner. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the assistance of the Blue Ridge Fire District, Gila County Sheriff’s Office, Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, and the US Forest Service in resolving this incident.