Where does Ayer Lake get its water?
From Queen Creek. There’s a shallow well located in the canyon just east of the suspension bridge that spans Queen Creek and leads to the High Trail. Water from the well is piped up and over the cliffs, then flows downhill through a drainage to the lake, entering at the east end. If you’re walking near the Picket Post Mansion, listen and look for the artificial “waterfall” splashing down from the cliffs above when the lake is being refilled! We have another well along Queen Creek at the west end of the Arboretum near the Highway 60 Queen Creek bridge. Ayer Lake is the source of irrigation water for our collection plants.
