Everything from birthday parties, graduation celebrations, board meetings, family reunions and just plain solitary reflections have been hosted by Woodland Lake Park over the decades at all times of the year except after some of our heaviest snowstorms. The convenient access to both sides of the Park, with plenty of parking, helps spread out the crowds and maintain the more remote ambiance that many are looking for when visiting the area.  

 In the past, Woodland Lake Park has been managed by the Town of Pinetop Lakeside with a special use permit from the US Forest Service, previous owners of the property. However, due to the unbelievable generosity of Nancy and Peter Salter through the Salter Family Foundation, the property was purchased from the Forest Service and donated to the Town to be managed as the park it is. Many groups and individuals have been working for years and years to raise funds to purchase the park to assure its future, including Save Our Park, White Mountain Nature Center, and the TRACKS organization which maintains the White Mountain Trail system. Their efforts and a huge community interest possibly convinced the philanthropists to make sure the park remained available to residents and visitors alike for decades to come.

 Now that the Town owns the property it is much easier to make improvements to the infrastructure. Anybody hiking the trail around the lake lately will have a hard time actually finding the lake, unless you walk along the dam. The water had to be drawn down to make repairs on the dam and the valve that controls the outflow of water down into Edler’s Lake. Taking advantage of a dry lake bed, the bottom is being deepened a little and the overly thick mats of cattails are being cleaned out along the shoreline creating even more viewing and hopeful angling opportunities. 

 

 The valve has been repaired and closed so now it is up to Mother Nature to fill the basin. As you may have noticed in recent years with low levels of precipitation, the lake does not always fill or stay full throughout the summer. That’s because the water is actually owned by people who paid for the water rights, and is administered by the Show Low Pinetop Woodland Irrigation Company. Woodland Lake was originally constructed as a storage reservoir for local farmers as was Rainbow Lake, just downstream. When we get normal precipitation, there is enough water for everybody, including the fish. With the current trend in drier weather, the Town of Pinetop Lakeside is looking for creative ways to maintain lake levels for the benefit of all.

 In addition to the dam and lake work, there will be a significant makeover for the entire Park. To prevent the spread of an insect infestation and become more firewise, many dead, dying, and stunted trees will be removed this winter when they completely close the park for safety reasons. Feller buncher logging equipment and bicycles, strollers, or hikers don’t mix too well.

 The paved path through paradise will be completely rebuilt to be 10’ wide and handicapped accessible with a smooth new surface and the new playground equipment will be ready for youngsters as soon as it warms up this spring. Bathrooms will be upgraded and the trail’s covered bridge will get a new roof thanks to the White Mountain Rotary Club. The tennis courts have been newly resurfaced and multi purposed into pickle ball courts also.

 Anglers should also see improvements in fishing at the lake with the dredging providing more volume and hopefully better water quality later into the summer. In the past, by June, the lake would become so alkaline that fish couldn’t survive so none were stocked after May. In addition, water structures called “Georgia Cubes” will be placed near the dam to provide habitat and hiding spots for fish we’re trying to hook as well as their food, the smaller minnows and aquatic insects. These have been used in Roosevelt Lake with great success.

 Since the dock is designed for fishing, the boat landing provides easy access for canoes, kayaks, and trailered boats alike. The Town will apply to leverage more grant money from Arizona Game and Fish to repair and improve the existing boat ramp, allowing access even with low water levels.

 The water and fish in the lake attract an impressive assortment of wildlife during the spring, summer and fall months. The shoulder spring and fall seasons are a birder’s bonanza as migrating waterfowl, eagles, osprey, songbirds, and even pelicans and loons might be seen. During the long days of summer, the resident ducks, eagles and osprey often entertain park visitors when raising their young ducklings or showing off their fishing skills by plunging explosively into the lake, snatching those trout right in front of an occasionally exasperated angler.

 The White Mountain Nature Center, as well as TRACKS and Save Our Park have pledged to assist the Town with additional plans to make Woodland Lake Park an “oasis” for wildlife within the community. These plans include providing the waterfowl and other birds with floating islands of habitat, that won’t be affected as much by fluctuating water levels as a traditional island, and would also provide some hiding habitat for the fish underneath it.  

 Since all of the favorite eagle and osprey roosts are old dead snags rotted at the base and prone to blowdown in the next storm, plans are being made to construct some longer lasting perches from trees or telephone poles. These will be located within the lake to provide a buffer from people and pets at the same time as making the birds “available” for portraits.

 Fish will be stocked when the lake level rises to an appropriate level and there are rumors floating around that a new bonus species may be added to the lake this year. Hint: Start saving your nickels to buy some crawlers unless you have a nice loamy backyard. To be the first on the block to know, you can sign up for AGFD news at AZGFD.com and click the “E-news Signup” button in the upper left corner. 

 So you will want to keep an eye on Woodland Lake Park next year as the Town of Pinetop Lakeside along with many partners get to work on polishing this community’s gem of a park and attraction. The only thing needed now is some more precipitation and the park will start beaming like a newly cut and cleaned diamond.