Sedona AZ (March 18, 2014) – The Coconino National Forest is implementing a prohibition on glass food and beverage containers on federal lands near Oak Creek and Fossil Creek, two popular public swimming areas. This ban will be in effect beginning April 1, 2014. Broken glass containers are to blame for cut feet and litter in many locations along these two streams. This prohibition will enhance health and safety and reduce hazardous waste in the stream corridor.
Along Oak Creek near Sedona, glass containers are prohibited on Forest land within 300 feet of the edge of Oak Creek except within designated picnic and campgrounds or within a motor vehicle. This prohibition extends from Red Rock Crossing upstream through Oak Creek Canyon to Pumphouse Wash.
For Fossil Creek, glass containers are prohibited within the entire Wild and Scenic River area ¼ mile on either side of Fossil Creek from the Fossil Springs area downstream to below Stehr Lake. This includes portions of the Coconino and the Tonto national forests. Visitors may have glass containers within their vehicle.
Forest visitors are encouraged to abide by the prohibition so that the stream corridor is safer for everyone. Visitors should bring alternate types of containers with them if they are picnicking stream-side. The prohibition will be posted at all bulletin boards and entry areas. Per Title 16 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and/or (b), violation of this Order is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both.
Contact the Red Rock Ranger District at (928)-203-2900 or for additional information.
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Congratulations Red Rock Ranger District!!!
This is a great start to help solving a HUGE TRASH PROBLEM in the Oak Creek corridor. Last summer, the Oak Creek Watershed Council and USFS partnered to retain the services of 4 Oak Creek Ambassadors who travelled the Creek corridor from its headwaters in the Canyon down through Sedona picking up trash and litter, as well as educating Creek visitors on recreating responsibly.
The Ambassadors and Friends of Oak Creek volunteers disposed of 2 TONS OF TRASH including 85 pounds of human and dog feces as well as 128 diapers and countless glass containers!
Just to put the feces into perspective: there are over 23,000,000 bacteria in one gram of dog feces. There are 453.6 grams in 1 pound. You do the math.
On the upside, the Ambassadors visited with over 11,000 recreators and engaged them in 860 hours of education. They will be patrolling the Oak Creek corridor again this summer.
The bigger picture is this: Oak Creek has a perennial problem with E. coli, an indicator of fecal coliform. This is a potential health issue just waiting for the right set of circumstances to become a serious problem, or even a tragedy.
Glass is just the tip of the trash iceberg. There is no housekeeping service in the forest, or the watershed.
Our watershed is our home, and it is up to EACH of us to keep it CLEAN. We need your help, and you need to help. Please support our efforts.
Barry Allan, CEO
Oak Creek Watershed Council