From: Roybal, Marcos A -FS To: FS-comments-southwestern-coconino-redrock Subject: FW: Fossil Creek Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 3:56:27 PM From: Branton, Nicole -FS Sent: Monday, January 23, 2017 3:55 PM To: Roybal, Marcos A -FS <[email protected]>; Munding, Elizabeth A -FS <[email protected]> Subject: FW: Fossil Creek From: Barbi Buchanan [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 2:14 PM To: Branton, Nicole -FS <[email protected]> Subject: Fossil Creek I support Preferred Alternative D that would limit visitors to Fossil Creed to 1700 per day along with the other improvements and limitations. Thanks for asking for feedback. --Barbi Barbi Buchanan 480.330.6049 cell 1108 No. Alyssa Circle Payson, AZ 85541-3371 From: NICK Elenz To: FS-comments-southwestern-coconino-redrock Subject: Fossil Creek CRMP Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 9:05:23 PM I have hiked in the area for 30 plus years, I get the permit, ok with it. What I would like is some way to permit back country hikers to allow access into the canyon earlier than the current 8 Am, in summer. I have sometimes in the past hit the trail in the dark before sun rise. It is the best time to be in the wilderness, when the sun rises. Please consider it. Thank You Nick Elenz 602 881 2399 From: Rich Rudow To: FS-comments-southwestern-coconino-redrock Subject: Fossil Creek CRMP Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 11:23:57 AM Hello, As an avid hiker, canyoneer, and paddler, I'm enclosing these comments to the Fossil Creek CRMP. In general, it's my view that the preferred Alternative (E) is far too heavy handed in the development of infrastructure to enable increased use. As you know, the main problem at Fossil Creek has been increased use by people who don't have a sense of Wilderness ethics. I applaud the use of adaptive management to maintain the Wilderness values of Fossil Creek, but the preferred alternative suggests the use of adaptive management as a tool to build infrastructure to enable vastly increased visitation. I cannot support this idea. I believe the "People At One Time" (PAOT) should remain at the current level rather than be allowed to expand as a result of infrastructure construction. Allowing more people will only bring more impacts. The permit system has shown success in reducing the environmental impacts and it should be maintained and improved. I'm in favor of modest infrastructure improvement, using a thoughtful adaptive management process involving the public in the design phase, to further reduce the impacts of the current PAOT, but not development focused on cramming more people into an already sensitive area. Paddlers have been using Fossil Creek for kayak and packraft outings for many years. I believe paddlers are far more educated in Wilderness ethics and safety than the general "water play" swimmer, tuber, or jumper. I'm troubled that paddlers are lumped into this water play category. Paddlers need to be broken out from this water play category and regulated based on their unique ethics and safety attributes. Furthermore, I'm firmly opposed to any closure of waterfalls or other features to paddling. Fossil Creek is special because it's one of the very few year round water courses deep enough for paddling. Paddlers deserve the right to paddle through rather than having to walk around regulated features. Of course, I fully support regulations to ensure that paddling is safe such as the use of customary safety systems (PFD's, helmets, throw bags, scouting waterfalls). I could support thoughtful restrictions on paddling in order to help safety around the waterfalls, such as scouting falls to alert swimmers to paddlers playing through, or the use of seasonal restrictions, such as running the falls in the off seasons, if scouting proves to be ineffective. I fully support the detailed comments submitted by the American Packrafting Association on the Fossil Creek CRMP. Finally, I do not support commercial guiding in the Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic area. There are already too many people with impacts. Guiding will reduce the number of permits available for the unguided recreational community. I sincerely appreciate the work the Forest Service is doing to balance the visitor experience at Fossil Creek with minimal environmental impacts. Thank you for receiving my comments, Rich Rudow Mesa Arizona From: Vergano, Brendan A. To: FS-comments-southwestern-coconino-redrock Subject: Fossil Creek CRMP Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 7:55:00 PM Please keep Fossil Creek public access! My family and I have gone to Fossil Creek many times over the past couple of years and it would be a shame if it were closed down. It is a beautiful place for all the enjoy and should be kept open for all. -Brendan Vergano From: Joni Ward To: FS-comments-southwestern-coconino-redrock Cc: Dawn Goldman; Kris Schloemer Subject: Fossil Creek CRMP Proposed Actions Comments Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 11:55:29 AM [email protected] To: U. S. Forest Service Fossil Creek CRMP Group Re: Fossil Creek CRMP Proposed Actions Comments Date: January 23, 2017 I am writing to express my opinion about the proposed actions for the CRMP for the Fossil Creek area. Over the last 5 years I have been the coordinating botanist on a Floristic Survey of the area bounded on the west by the old Irving Power Plant site and the east by the confluence of Sand Rock and Calf Pen Canyons, including the Fossil Springs Trailhead and Trail, Fossil Creek Botanical Area, the Flume Trail and Wilderness area and FR 708 between these two areas. This project entitled “Fossil Creek Watershed” originated out of the Plant Atlas Project of Arizona (PAPAZ) and has included up to 12 other botanists and volunteers (occasionally including USFS Staff). We have collected from about 72 families and have a list of about 350 taxa so far. My colleagues on this project, Dawn Goldman and Kris Schloemer, have submitted detailed opinions on this matter as well. As your group is well aware, this area is rich in habitat, wildlife, archeological sites and geological formations including the unique formations in and along Fossil Creek. Having visited this area multiple times, in all seasons over the last 5 years, including a recent “bucket list” backpacking trip, I just want to say “Thank you” for the 2016 interim management reservation system. The difference in the amount of trash and overall apparent disruption in the habitat of the area was striking in a positive way. In 2015 we had all agreed that we would not visit the Waterfall Trail again because it was just too depressing with all of the trash and the reservation system in 2016 made a big difference. Realizing that one cannot pick and choose parts of the proposed action plans I feel that Alternative B with enhanced protection would offer the best protection of this beautiful treasure while still providing access for the public. I find the following actions appropriate and attractive: The addition of “vault and portable toilets, trash receptacles, kiosks, signs, interpretive trail, barriers, bike racks and gates” would provide a safer, healthier and richer experience. The setting aside of a site for Tribal use, assuring this has been vetted with the tribes that would use it, would provide a secluded, protected area. The designation of camping sites at Fossil Spring Historic Dam would provide for a wilderness experience in this unique habitat. Development of the West Welcome Center with interpretive displays, trails, vault toilets and parking will encourage visitors to learn more about the habitats around Fossil Creek and their significance historically, prehistorically and as part of the Verde River Watershed. Continued closer of FR 708 between the junction of FR 591 on the east and the Waterfall Trailhead (Lewis) on the east. (see note below) I would ask reconsideration on the following point in Alternative B: Consider closing the waterfall area to swimming-I have hiked all along the Waterfall Trail and there are many spots for swimming. I approve of the waterfall overlook and restricting swimming will protect the habitat and protect people from injuries. The “hanging gardens” in this area have not been fully documented and closing the waterfall to swimming would protect this are for future studies. In Alternative C, one of the actions includes adding picnic tables and camping sites at the Fossil Springs (renamed Bear) Trailhead. I like this idea as it allow more of the general population to explore the area without having to hike a steep trail or drive in from Camp Verde. This site is already somewhat developed and has been used for grazing and would not add any additional disruption to the habitat. Please do not open FR 708 between the junction with 591 on the east and with Lewis Trailhead on the west. Herbarium records found in SEINet indicate that Galium collomiae can be found along this section of road. While we have not observed it along the road, I believe we will find it in the future. Thank you for extending the time for providing input on the Proposed Alternatives. I had a family emergency and having additional time helped me get this done. Yours truly, Joni Ward 1261 E. La Jolla Drive Tempe, Arizona 85282 [email protected] Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad From: Wirl, Austin C. To: FS-comments-southwestern-coconino-redrock Subject: Fossil Creek CRMP Date: Monday, January 23, 2017 8:14:27 PM To whom it may concern, I am emailing to you today to petition you to keep Fossil Creek open.