UPDATE: Fossil Springs Trail HAS RE-OPENED as of 1/1/09

[hikeaz]

Only the 'Upper' Trailhead is open.

On New Year’s Day 2009, the Fossil Springs Trail Head parking area and Fossil Springs Trail re-opened for visitor use; however, the Lower Trail and Lower Trail Parking area remain under a closure order. According to Kimberly Ashcraft, APS Project Manager, APS is currently removing their equipment and restoring the site, “After months of work, APS has removed the top 14 feet of Fossil Springs Dam.”

Ashcraft described the next step in the decommissioning of the the old Childs-Irving Hydroelectric facilites, “ Our next major activity will be removing the Hot Water Siphon. As we pull back from Fossil Springs Dam, we will be re-grading the access road to form a walking trail.”

[Dschur]

Tonto and Coconino national forests announce temporary Fossil Creek area closures




Payson, Ariz. (August 13, 2008) – Due to continuing de-construction efforts on the Childs-Irving Hydroelectric facilities, a temporary closure of Fossil Springs and Fossil Creek on the Tonto and Coconino national forests will be in effect from Monday, August 18, 2008 through Saturday, February 28, 2009 (unless terminated 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.

This temporary closure is requested by Arizona Public Service (APS) in connection with the ongoing decommissioning of the power plant and facilities at Fossil Creek.

[chumley]

Good luck enforcing that one. Its way too popular of a hike. It's like closing Wally World when the Griswolds have driven across country to get there. No turning back!

[rally_toad]

It will be interesting to see how they enforce it.

[azdesertfather]

what's the point?? not sure why deconstructing that thing is going to require no one around the place for so long. anyone know?

[tonyp]

Because a high percentage of the people who hike into Fossil Springs are nig-nogs. Researchers have found their detection equipment in firepits.
Construction guys have no sense of humor about that. They're going to bring in power tools and scaffolding and crane equipment and lots of other things that aren't toys but that nig-nogs will try to play with or steal anyway. So they'll close the place.

Tony

[Dschur]

Didn't see this posted here yet so here is the info....

Fossil Creek will re-open New Year’s Day
two months ahead of schedule

Payson , AZ. ( December 24, 2008 ) – Fossil Creek temporary closure orders are being lifted on Jan. 1 by the Tonto and Coconino national forests, two months ahead of Arizona Public Service (APS) schedules. The closure orders were requested by APS in connection with the ongoing decommissioning of the power plant and facilities at Fossil Creek and went into effect on August 18, 2008 .



On New Year’s Day the Fossil Springs Trail Head parking area and Fossil Springs Trail will re-open for visitor use; however, the Lower Trail and Lower Trail Parking area remain under a closure order.



According to Kimberly Ashcraft, APS Project Manager, APS is currently removing their equipment and restoring the site, “After months of work, APS has removed the top 14 feet of Fossil Springs Dam.”



Ashcraft described the next step in the decommissioning of the the old Childs-Irving Hydroelectric facilites, “ Our next major activity will be removing the Hot Water Siphon. As we pull back from Fossil Springs Dam, we will be re-grading the access road to form a walking trail.”

[azdesertfather]

woohoo! what i nice new year's present, for anyone crazy enough to brave the cold

[chumley]

woohoo! what i nice new year's present, for anyone crazy enough to brave the cold

There was a photo in the Republic/AZCentral the other day showing the crazy flow and new waterfall now that they took out the top 15 ft. of the dam. I'd be very interested in seeing how it looks down there and take some photos. It'll be fun to watch the travertine create pools and formations over the next several years under the regular flow.