News Release: AZGFD investigating fish mortalities at Becker and Luna lakes

Arizona Game and Fish Department sent this bulletin at 06/30/2025 05:32 PM MST

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For immediate release, June 30, 2025
Arizona Game and Fish Department

Contacts:
Ryan Follmuth, Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager, Pinetop Region
928-532-3692, rfollmuth@azgfd.gov

Tom Cadden, Community Relations Project Manager, Phoenix Headquarters
602-377-1632, tcadden@azgfd.gov

AZGFD investigating fish mortalities at Becker and Luna lakes

Extent of each event is yet unknown, but department advises public to seek alternative White Mountains fishing locations at this time

Recent photo taken at Luna Lake

PINETOP, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is advising anglers to avoid fishing at Becker and Luna lakes at this time after receiving calls from the public on Friday, June 27, reporting dead fish at both lakes.

AZGFD staff visited each waterbody on Friday morning and were able to confirm that each was experiencing a fish kill. Though the cause for both is slightly different, each is related to poor water quality due to the far below-average precipitation during the past year in the area.

At Becker Lake, department staff believe this fish kill is ultimately related to chronic high pH conditions for the better part of a year and the mortality of each individual fish is related to stress and poor condition of fish.

At Luna Lake, this kill is most likely the result of a harmful algae bloom (HAB), causing a decrease in dissolved oxygen. AZGFD is coordinating with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). Per ADEQ's website (https://azdeq.gov/AZHABs/faqs), when algae is present, keep children, pets and people away from the water and shore, do not drink the water or use it for cooking, and avoid eating fish from the water. When in doubt, stay out.

At this time, AZGFD recommends that members of the public seek alternative fishing locations in the White Mountains. A few potential options in the area are Big Lake, the Greer Lakes, and the East Fork Black River. Department staff have received reports of good fishing at each location from members of the public.

AZGFD is continuing to investigate the fish kills at both waterbodies to confirm their root cause and full extent.

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives Federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age and sex pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To request an accommodation or informational material in an alternative format or to file a discrimination complaint please contact the Director’s Office at (602) 942-3000 or by mail at 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Discrimination complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce, Attention: Public Civil Rights and Disability Coordinator, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.

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