Rose Canyon Lake
Pima County, Arizona7 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↑ up from D at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Limited data
Rose Canyon Lake in Pima County, Arizona has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Surface area: 7.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Area
- 7 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 51 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Rose Canyon Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Rose Canyon Lake
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Watch Rose Canyon Lake’s letter
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Rose Canyon Lake is a 7-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pima County, Arizona. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Pima County, Rose Canyon Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-04-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Rose Canyon Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Camping5 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 51 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 51 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Rose Canyon Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
Public campgrounds near Rose Canyon Lake
- Rose Canyon0.9 km
- Showers Point2.4 km
- General Hitchcock2.7 km
- Whitetail Group3.3 km
- Spencer Canyon4.2 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Rose Canyon Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.05 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -1.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Rose Canyon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lower Rose Canyon (completed 1958), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Sycamore Creek - Tr; gravity-type dam, 45 ft tall and 188 ft long.
- Surface area
- 7.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 117 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 145 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.78 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AZ00132 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.05 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Pima County
Nearby Lakes in Pima County
Frequently asked questions about Rose Canyon Lake
Where is Rose Canyon Lake?
- Rose Canyon Lake is a lake in Pima County, Arizona. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Rose Canyon Lake?
- Rose Canyon Lake in Pima County, Arizona has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Surface area: 7.3 acres.
Is Rose Canyon Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there campgrounds on Rose Canyon Lake?
- Rose Canyon Lake has 5 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Rose Canyon, Showers Point, General Hitchcock, Whitetail Group. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Rose Canyon Lake across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 7.4 mi, nearest Mercer Spring
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Arizona's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Arizona's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Saguaro?
Rose Canyon Lake is about 13 miles from Saguaro National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Saguaro →More Arizona Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Arizona
Eutrophic Lakes in Arizona
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Great Lakes Environmental Center
GLEC10 samples · 2022–2026 - AZDEQ_SW
AZDEQ_SW2 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 300.0 ~ EPA; Determination of Inorganic Anions by Ion Chromatography
- EPA 365.1
- FIELD
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles