The Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and the Arizona Game and Fish Department recently partnered to add aquatic habitat to Woodland Lake. The opportunity to make habitat improvements came up during repair work on the Woodland Lake Dam that required the lake be drained. AZGFD staff were able to secure leftover materials from previous habitat projects that could be used for this one at no extra expense. 
 
In February 2021, staff from AZGFD and the Town constructed 26 aquatic habitat structures over two days to store until spring snowmelt would fill Woodland Lake. When spring snowmelt was less than anticipated, the Town continued to store the habitat structures. Eventually, two large monsoon rainfalls led to appropriate water levels in Woodland Lake. Town staff assisted with the transportation of the aquatic habitat structures while AZGFD staff installed all 26 of them.
 
With improvements to the habitat and increased water levels, AZGFD stocked more than 4,500 rainbow trout into Woodland Lake in late October and early November to provide good fishing over winter 2021-2022. Additional stockings are planned for 2022 with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. These should provide excellent opportunities for locals and visitors to catch fish in the future.