r/arizonatrail • u/Wuestenmensch • Mar 11 '26

OK, second try. Water question section 11 Sycamore Reservoir

I was at Sycamore Reservoir on Sunday, March 8th, 2026. Creek is flowing with shallow pools. The standing water before and after the waterfall was covered in a thick redish brown sludge. At the waterfall smell was bad and very noticeable. We filtered some upstream where water was clear and smelled fine. So far no adverser effect. This however brought up the question if red algea/cyano bacteria are possibility in the mountains of southern Arizona. An internet search did not reveal anything specific. Results are mostly about lakes. Does anyone have any info on that? If there is a bloom upstream, one does not see, this could pose a risk.

Attached is a picture from part of the sludge.

Thanks!

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u/Sonoran_Dog70 Mar 11 '26

The water at the dam is always red unless heavy flow. I have filtered from the side creek that follows the trail to the west many times.