New Fossil Creek regulations
Posted: Feb 22 2010 7:12 pm
A friend who works for the Forest Service sent me this announcement:
NEWS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
For Immediate Release Contact: Connie Birkland (928) 203-7505
Date: February 22, 2010
New Camping and Campfire Regulations for Fossil Creek
Sedona, Ariz. – As students and families anticipate warm weather and head for water during Spring Break, the Forest Service is helping visitors prepare for changes at Fossil Creek, one of Northern Arizona’s more popular swimming and camping sites.
If you are going to Fossil Creek, the Forest Service wants you to know about new camping and campfire regulations that will affect your visit there. Specifically, to help protect Fossil Creek, beginning March 8, 2010, campfires will be prohibited throughout Fossil Creek and camping will be limited to certain areas away from the creek.
Big changes for Fossil Creek began in 2005 with the decommissioning of the Arizona Public Service Hydro-electric dam and the return of full flows to the creek. Then in 2009 Congress designated Fossil Creek as a National Wild and Scenic River. The Coconino and Tonto National Forests are working together to maintain and protect the area’s special values.
“Fossil Creek is incredibly beautiful and became popular really fast, so it’s no wonder that it’s being loved to death,” said Red Rock Ranger District Recreation Staff Officer Jennifer Burns. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing its beauty eroded from impacts of tens of thousands of visitors wanting to get close to the clear pools and lush vegetation.”
Officials say trees are being chopped down for firewood, human and pet waste is threatening water quality, streamside vegetation is being trampled as new trails are created and the ground is littered with waste, glass, trash and ash.
“We are very concerned about the threat of wildfire to the creek and nearby communities,” said Burns. “Last summer we put out over 200 abandoned campfires.”
As the Forest Service works with the public to create and implement a long-term Comprehensive River Management Plan, officials and volunteers will be on site informing visitors of current and anticipated changes in how the area is managed for recreation. “Until we get a long term plan worked out,” says Burns, “we have to stop the trashing of this treasure. We hope visitors understand these interim management changes are meant to buy us time.”
Because Fossil Creek is one of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in the State, the Forest Service will be including Fossil Creek in a national Respect the Rivers campaign to connect people to their riparian environments, return watersheds and rivers to a healthy state and call on the public to become stewards of such national treasures.
For more information about Fossil Creek or how to help protect the area, please go to: http://www.coconinoforests.us, http://www.redrockcountry.org, or http://www.tonto http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml or call the Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 282-4119 or the Payson Ranger District at (928) 474-7900.
They have created a brochure with the following regulations:
No camping within 1/4 mile of either side of the creek from the old dam down to the Fossil Creek Bridge. Camping below the bridge is allowed with a 100 foot limit from the creek.
Camping is allowed above the old Fossil Creek dam.
No campfires within 1/4 mile from the creek, from the head of Fossil Creek to 10 miles downstream to the Stehr Lakebed.
Construction of new or improvement of old campsites is prohibited.
Driving offroad is prohibited.
Violations are punishable with fines up to $5000 and/or 6 months in jail.
NEWS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service
Coconino National Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino
For Immediate Release Contact: Connie Birkland (928) 203-7505
Date: February 22, 2010
New Camping and Campfire Regulations for Fossil Creek
Sedona, Ariz. – As students and families anticipate warm weather and head for water during Spring Break, the Forest Service is helping visitors prepare for changes at Fossil Creek, one of Northern Arizona’s more popular swimming and camping sites.
If you are going to Fossil Creek, the Forest Service wants you to know about new camping and campfire regulations that will affect your visit there. Specifically, to help protect Fossil Creek, beginning March 8, 2010, campfires will be prohibited throughout Fossil Creek and camping will be limited to certain areas away from the creek.
Big changes for Fossil Creek began in 2005 with the decommissioning of the Arizona Public Service Hydro-electric dam and the return of full flows to the creek. Then in 2009 Congress designated Fossil Creek as a National Wild and Scenic River. The Coconino and Tonto National Forests are working together to maintain and protect the area’s special values.
“Fossil Creek is incredibly beautiful and became popular really fast, so it’s no wonder that it’s being loved to death,” said Red Rock Ranger District Recreation Staff Officer Jennifer Burns. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing its beauty eroded from impacts of tens of thousands of visitors wanting to get close to the clear pools and lush vegetation.”
Officials say trees are being chopped down for firewood, human and pet waste is threatening water quality, streamside vegetation is being trampled as new trails are created and the ground is littered with waste, glass, trash and ash.
“We are very concerned about the threat of wildfire to the creek and nearby communities,” said Burns. “Last summer we put out over 200 abandoned campfires.”
As the Forest Service works with the public to create and implement a long-term Comprehensive River Management Plan, officials and volunteers will be on site informing visitors of current and anticipated changes in how the area is managed for recreation. “Until we get a long term plan worked out,” says Burns, “we have to stop the trashing of this treasure. We hope visitors understand these interim management changes are meant to buy us time.”
Because Fossil Creek is one of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in the State, the Forest Service will be including Fossil Creek in a national Respect the Rivers campaign to connect people to their riparian environments, return watersheds and rivers to a healthy state and call on the public to become stewards of such national treasures.
For more information about Fossil Creek or how to help protect the area, please go to: http://www.coconinoforests.us, http://www.redrockcountry.org, or http://www.tonto http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml or call the Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 282-4119 or the Payson Ranger District at (928) 474-7900.
They have created a brochure with the following regulations:
No camping within 1/4 mile of either side of the creek from the old dam down to the Fossil Creek Bridge. Camping below the bridge is allowed with a 100 foot limit from the creek.
Camping is allowed above the old Fossil Creek dam.
No campfires within 1/4 mile from the creek, from the head of Fossil Creek to 10 miles downstream to the Stehr Lakebed.
Construction of new or improvement of old campsites is prohibited.
Driving offroad is prohibited.
Violations are punishable with fines up to $5000 and/or 6 months in jail.
