ACTION TIMELINE

September 15, 1997 – The Center opposed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's proposed relicensing of Arizona Public Service's Fossil Creek hydroelectric plants.

November 3, 1998 – The Center solicited letters from the public requesting the decommissioning of the Childs and Irving hydroelectric plants harming Fossil Creek.

July 30, 1999 – The Center sent a notice of intent to sue the Arizona Public Service Company over its damaging hydroelectric plants.

November 12, 1999 – The Center announced a public protest on November 18, 1999 against Arizona Public Service Company concerning the company's refusal to decommission the power plants on Fossil Creek.

November 19, 1999 – The Arizona Public Service Company agreed to decommission both of its plants on Fossil Creek and return full flows to the river.

October 9, 2000 – The Center, a coalition of other environmental groups, and the Yavapai-Apache Nation secured a legal agreement with the Arizona Public Service Company to decommission the Childs and Irving plants by December 31, 2004 and have the site restored by 2009.

June 18, 2005 – The Arizona Public Service Company officially decommissioned the Childs and Irving hydroelectric power plants and returned flows to the streambed.

November 2, 2007 – The Center, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service participated in stocking native loach minnow and spikedace in Fossil Creek.

March 25, 2009 – The House of Representatives voted 285-140 to approve the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which granted a federal “wild and scenic river” designation to Arizona's restored Fossil Creek.

June 17, 2009 – The Center filed an administrative appeal challenging the U.S. Forest Service for its failure to protect endangered wildlife and water quality when it authorized destructive livestock grazing across 42,000 acres of Fossil Creek's watershed.

January 24, 2012 – Citing violations of the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, a federal district court judge overturned the Forest Service decision to allow grazing across all 42,000 acres. 

Photo © Paul S. Hamilton