Arizona’s Fossil Creek to Close Temporarily for Removal of Non-Native Fish

Fossil Creek will temporarily be closed Sept. 11-28 so the stream can be renovated to remove nonnative smallmouth bass from a portion of the creek.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be cooperatively removing nonnative smallmouth bass, resulting in an anticipated temporary three-week closure starting Sept. 11 that is anticipated to last through Sept. 28, or until removal of the bass is complete.

The smallmouth bass will be removed using rotenone, a naturally occurring chemical that has been used for decades as a piscicide. The purpose of the closure is for public safety, and to allow for agency personnel to complete their job and monitor conditions.

During 2004, a large multi-agency effort involving many stakeholders successfully removed all nonnative fish from this unique travertine stream. Prior to the original renovation, nonnative predatory and competitive fishes such as smallmouth bass were one of the primary causes for the decline of native fish and other aquatic species in Fossil Creek.

Nonnative bass reinvaded a portion of the stream in 2011 when an unusually large storm deposited rocks and boulders below the fish barrier, giving the bass an avenue to get up and over the barrier. The rock debris was removed this summer, restoring the function of the fish barrier.

Fossil Creek is part of the Verde River drainage and lies on the border between the Tonto and Coconino National Forests. The proposed treatment area lies within a portion of the Mazatzal Wilderness. Fossil Creek is a national treasure for its many unique qualities, including its native fish and other natural resources.

To view the closure order, visit www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/coconino/alerts-notices/?aid=14078. If you need information on the status of this closure, please call the Fossil Creek hotline at (928) 226-4611, Red Rock Ranger District at (928) 203-2900, or go to www.coconinoforest.us.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is a state agency of Arizona, headquartered in Phoenix. The agency is tasked with conserving, enhancing, and restoring Arizona's diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs. It also provides wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment of, appreciation by, and use by present and future generations.