Fossil Creek Closed This Fall and Winter (AZ)

The Tonto and Coconino National Forests announced earlier this month that due to continuing demolition efforts on the Childs-Irving Hydroelectric facilities, a temporary closure of Fossil Springs and Fossil Creek on the Tonto and Coconino national forests is in effect from Monday, Aug. 18, 2008 through Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 (unless teminated sooner.)

 

The closure area boundaries include: Fossil Springs trailhead north to Fossil Springs, west to the Irving Power Plant, and south along the east side of Forest Road (FR) 708 (Fossil Creek Road). Exemptions to the order will include security personnel and law enforcement in the performance of their duties.  You can learn more and view a map of the closure order on the Tonto National Forest website.  This closure temporarily prohibits all recreation, including paddling, in and along the "classic section" of Fossil Creek.

 

The closure is intended to protect property and assure public safety while crews are removing the Childs-Irving hydropower project, which historically diverted water from Fossil Creek.  The decommissioning of the project has restored natural flows to the stream that paddlers have since enjoyed.  Removal of the project will further benefit the area.  Recreational closures associated with dam removals are not without precedent, indeed a closure is currently in place in the immediate vicinity of Milltown Dam on Montana's Clark Fork River for this same purpose. 

 

In addition to, and perhaps thanks to the removal effort, Fossil Creek is also currently being considered by Congress for designation as a Wild and Scenic River.

 

The Payson Ranger District office,

Tonto National Forest, can be contacted by telephone at 928-474-7900 for further information.

 

The Red Rock Ranger District,

Coconino National Forest, can be contacted by telephone at 928-203-7500 for further information.