Tempe Town Lake

Tempe Town Lake is a reservoir along the Salt River in central Tempe, Arizona. The body of water stretches roughly two miles (three kilometers) between two rubber dams and is flanked by paved pathways and small sandy beaches.

Planning began in the late 1970s and took two decades before water was first impounded in 1999. The two inflatable dams were chosen as a solution to create a permanent body of water in a river that otherwise flows only seasonally.

The name comes from the city of Tempe, itself named after the Greek valley of Tempe. Local residents use the waterfront paths for jogging and cycling, while families gather for picnics along the shore on warm evenings.

The shoreline paths are paved and accessible for walkers, cyclists, and wheelchair users. Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented from several outlets along the north side of the lake.

The water depth of roughly 16 feet (five meters) remains nearly constant year-round as evaporation losses are automatically replaced by inflows from the Central Arizona Project. This refill happens without human intervention through a control system that monitors water level continuously.