Photo Album of Stewards Fossil Creek Area Clean Up May 13

The Stewards of Public Lands experienced a fun day in the forest and a cleanup of the Fossil Creek area on Saturday, May 13. More than 40 community volunteers helped at the cleanup. A caravan left Camp Verde Bashas’ at 7:30 a.m. In cooperation with the Coconino and Prescott National Forests, Verde River Citizens Alliance and Friends of the Forrest, volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and brought sack lunches to share a meal together.

Volunteers who signed in were Loyd Barnett, Joyce Killebrew, Kathy Davis, Bruce George, Tony Gioia, Lynda Zanolli, Chuck Jenkins, Ginger and John Scarcella, Margaret Thede, Wally Coates, Jim Sweitzer, Colleen and Steve Harbison of Gardenscapes, Debbie LaFrance, Bev Sass, Pat George, Rick Blanton, Warren Dendekker, Chalres Mackey, Diane Joens, Jodi Allen, Walt and Mary Kaulfuss, Jim Worthington, Roy Buck, Ken Zoll, Betsy Cook, Babe Daley, and Roy Hess. The Prescott and Coconino National Forest furnished several staff members, and Walter Thomas, Supervisor of the Yavapai County Adult Community Services, also brought a crew of workers.

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Fossil Creek is one of Arizona's rare perennial streams, flowing from Fossil Springs southwest to the Verde River. Since the decommissioning of the Childs and Irving power plants, long-time caretaker Arizona Public Service has turned over total responsibility to the Coconino and Tonto National Forests. Limited financial and human resources bring new challenges with increased recreation litter and illegal dumping. Why do people litter? Some think someone else will clean up after them. Others have no sense of pride or ownership for their community. Occasionally, litter happens accidentally. Then, once litter has accumulated, it invites people to toss out more. The Stewards would like to work with the community to change that.

The Stewards have partnered with the Forest Service, state, county and municipal governments to clean up illegal dumping that the agencies are unable to accomplish alone. Co-chair Diane Joens says, “By acknowledging that no one governmental entity has the resources to clean up and manage rampant illegal dumping on public lands, the Stewards find ways to coordinate existing programs and address issues of overlapping jurisdictions.”