1. Visitor Management at Fossil Creek
An Overview of the Current Visitor Management
Situation for Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River
June 6, 2012

2. Past Problems: Parking along the road created a dangerous bottleneck.
Gridlock developed as vehicles were unable to pass each other.
Emergency vehicle access was severely limited.

3. Managing Visitors in the 2012 Season
GOALS:
Ensure emergency vehicle access at all times
Base visitor capacity on available safe and legal parking spaces
“No Roadside Parking” signs are placed in key locations where gridlock issues have occurred in the past

4. Managing Visitors in the 2012 Season Challenges since last year:
FR 708 from Strawberry is closed to vehicles. More people are hiking the 4 miles down the Fossil Springs Trail to the creek because they cannot drive down the road. More unprepared visitors are getting to the Springs and having trouble getting back out.
People are also hiking the 4 miles down the road from the gate. This is leading to more 911 calls by exhausted and dehydrated visitors. These people often park and block the gate needed for emergency access.
FR 708 from Camp Verde is the only way in for public vehicles. More unsuitable vehicles are traveling this road. This is leading to more broken down vehicles.
“No Roadside Parking” signs are placed in key locations where gridlock issues have occurred in the past

5. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
“No Roadside Parking” signs are placed in key locations where gridlock issues have occurred in the past.

6. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
Rangers are directing cars to available parking within the parking lots. Once full, barricades are bumped down the road to the next open parking lot.

7. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
Rangers are directing cars to available parking within the parking lots. Once full, barricades are bumped down the road to the next open parking lot.

8. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
FULL
Rangers are directing cars to available parking within the parking lots. Once full, barricades are bumped down the road to the next open parking lot.

9. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
FULL
FULL
Rangers are directing cars to available parking within the parking lots. Once full, barricades are bumped down the road to the next open parking lot.

10. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
Rangers are directing cars to available parking within the parking lots. Once full, barricades are bumped down the road to the next open parking lot.

11. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
Once the four popular parking areas are full, a gate near Homestead is closed and Homestead serves as overflow parking.

12. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
Traffic is then diverted down FR502. Rangers closely monitor the FR502 areas as they become full.

13. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
FULL
As these locations get close to capacity, rangers close the gate at the FR708 and Highway 260 junction.

14. Rangers redirect visitors to recreation areas such as the Verde River, Clear Creek and the rim lakes.

15. Notifying the Public
Two entrance signs are located within cell service and post the Fossil Creek information hotline number.

16. Notifying the Public
Two entrance signs are located within cell service and post the Fossil Creek information hotline number.
On busy weekends, the sign is flipped to show the temporary road closure warning.

17. Notifying the Public
Two entrance signs are located within cell service and post the Fossil Creek information hotline number.
On busy weekends, the sign is flipped to show the temporary road closure warning.
The Fossil Creek information hotline number is updated with real time road closure information. Closure information is posted on the Coconino’s Twitter feed. The Visitor’s Center is immediately notified when the junction gate is closed.

18. Notifying the Public
Two entrance signs are located within cell service and post the Fossil Creek information hotline number.
On busy weekends, the sign is flipped to show the temporary road closure warning.
The Fossil Creek information hotline number is updated with real time road closure information. Closure information is posted on the Coconino’s Twitter feed. The Visitor’s Center is immediately notified when the junction gate is closed.
Visitor information cards are handed out during contacts with the public.

19. Managing Traffic in the 2012 Season
The active management of parking has eliminated gridlock and keeps emergency access open.
To be successful, this strategy requires good radio communication and adequate staffing to manage the traffic situation.
Personnel must also be staged near the Highway 260 junction and maintain good communication with the rangers in the canyon.
This strategy is based on filling the available parking spaces to capacity. As a result, nearly 500 visitors are accommodated within Fossil Creek. This results in a high density of camps, vehicles and people in many popular locations.
Law enforcement assistance is required on weekends to address drug, alcohol and vehicle violations that frequently occur.
Fire and resource violations continue to occur frequently and are addressed by FPOs.

20. Visitor Management Strategy has been Modified Under Extreme Wildfire Risk
The extreme wildfire risk in the Fossil Creek area required a modification of the initial strategy.
Keeping the visitor use level low has become critical in the event that an evacuation becomes necessary.
The Highway 260 junction gate near Camp Verde is now closed on weekends when only 50% of the available parking along the creek has reached capacity.
On weekends, a full fire engine crew is staged in the area to provide initial fire response .
Every visitor is personally contacted as they enter the FR708 off of HWY260 and informed of the fire restrictions and any road closures.

21. Benefits/Consequences of the Current Strategy
Weekend use has been lowered by approximately 30% from last year as a result of the partial road closure at HWY260. This relieves some personnel from traffic management duties and frees them up to contact visitors at HWY260, and to patrol Childs and/or the Springs Trailhead.
Visitors are having fewer illegal fires and are carrying out more of their trash.
Less LEO presence is needed during the weekend due to the reduced numbers of visitors and the personal contact each visitor receives at the HWY260 road block.
The Fossil Springs area is receiving increased use due to the Strawberry road closure.
The fire crew staged at Fossil Creek , while available for initial response in Fossil Creek is unavailable for any other assignments due to the distance/time and poor radio communication.
Recreation areas nearby (Bull Pen in particular) are receiving increased use as people turned away from Fossil seek alternative water for recreation.

22. Next Steps Needed
Signs will be posted at the Fossil Springs Trailhead and at the Strawberry gate. The signs will inform the public that the road is open from Camp Verde, post the hotline number, and also offer warning of the danger of walking the road on the Strawberry side and the need to be prepared if they hike into Fossil Springs.
Focused weekend patrols to Fossil Springs will continue throughout the 2012 season (thanks to RO Wilderness Challenge funding).
Volunteers from Payson area may be engaged to assist with preventative search and rescue (PSAR) efforts at Fossil Springs Trailhead.
LEO staff not needed at Fossil can put more enforcement effort at Bull Pen and along FR618.