Stoneman Lake

A number of collapsed structures are present in the Beaver Creek Watershed. These structures range is size from 0.6 m (a few feet) to about 90 m (300 ft) in diameter. These features result from flowage of lava from underneath an already frozen lava cover. The unsupported lava cover yields to weathering and gravitational stress by collapsing shortly after freezing of the lava.

The largest of the collapse structures is the depression occupied by Stoneman Lake. The Stoneman Lake structure is too large to be explained by collapse into a lava flow cavern. The present crater floor is nearly 90 m (300 ft) below the rim and is underlain by lake beds at least 90 m (300 ft) thick indicating that the original lava roof has collapsed more than 183 m (600 ft). This distance exceeds the total thickness of lava believed to be present in this area. Possible explanations of this structure are collapse into a magna chamber at greater depth or into fractures or caverns in the underlying sedimentary rocks.

Stoneman lake

Stoneman Lake and its watershed, comprising less than 400 ha (1,000 ac), forms a small interior basin that has no surface outlet.

Selected References

McCabe, K.W. 1971. A geo-botanical study of Stoneman Lake, Wet Beaver Creek experimental drainage basin, Coconino County, Arizona. MS Thesis, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona.

Williams, J.A.; Anderson, T.C., Jr. 1967. Soil survey of Beaver Creek area, Arizona. USDA Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, and Arizona Agriculture Experiment Station.