As the "Field Tech" for this project, we do have some opinions and personal observations that we would like to express. We will keep most of our opinions out of the regular blog posts and place them here, for whatever they may be worth (or not). Note that Commentary for the most recent trip appears at the top. Scroll down for commentary on prior trips.
Newton Lane to Black Bridge
Our first comment deals with the Verde Ditch. Long ago, it was my experience that the Verde Ditch would do nothing to assist river runners. It was an adversarial relationship between river users and the ditch mgmt. I have no idea what the situation is today. I would suggest that FOVRG reach out to the Verde Ditch and explore ways to help make this stretch of river usable again.
Back in March 2007 I ran this stretch with Nancy McC. The river was dewatered for nearly a mile below the diversion. It was an ordeal to coax our boats through this area. I remember our joy of seeing a lot of water return to the river. We noted that a large flow was coming in at the same spot yesterday. These observations lead me to speculate that there is a permanent "river return" built into the Verde Ditch somewhere downstream from Horseshoe Bend. I am now wondering if it might be possible to float the ditch channel itself to get to this point for the portage. Then the paddler wouldn't have to drag their boat a mile. This is a possibility worth exploring. I also think that FOVRG should work with the Verde Ditch to actually map this area in great detail. Paddlers really need to know what to expect if they elect to encounter this obstacle.
Along those lines, it might be worth doing a stand-alone online publication entitled "Verde River Diversion Dams" so that potential river users could see each so-called structure in one publication. We suspect that people's interest in paddling any given stretch of river will be in direct proportion to their willingness to encounter one or more of these obstacles.
Our second commentary deals with ADOT and the Town of Camp Verde with regard to public access at I-17. The stretch of river between the interstate and Rezzonico Park at the Black Bridge could be one of the premier floatable stretches of river, especially if some minimal amenities were put in place on the Arizona State Parks Greenway parcel that lies on river right along this stretch.
Back in the late 1980's when we were working with the Forest Service to identify potential SLIP sites, ADOT flatly refused to get involved with facilitating public use of the I-17 bridge site. As I recall, they said it was illegal for people to use it for river access. Something need to be done to make this RAP more accessible and to clarify the cloud over the legality of public access. Is it illegal? Is it not? Obviously, people use this site at will so it may be a moot point. As far as I can tell, ADOT has no means of enforcement to keep people out of their right-of-way here. Camp Verde officials ought to get involved in this area. Who owns it? Is it simply a de facto "no man's land?" Maybe it's time to face up to this area and be pro-active about it.
Bignotti to Newton Lane
There needs to be some effort put into the Bignotti RAP. Paddlers need to know that river access disappears completely at the lower riffle. The river right bank turns into a steep and impassable bluff immediately after the riffle. If a trip misses the last egress point, they will then have to tow their gear back upstream. This could be problematic or impossible at higher flows.
It might be possible for some volunteer effort to be expended on the diversion below Thousand Trails to make the portage a little easier. There's one very large boulder that's difficult to navigate here. A few people and a come-along could move this boulder a few feet out of the way. It's clearly not performing any function for the diversion structure. It might be possible to request permission from the TT mgmt. to drive in and walk down to this point. There's an obvious trial to this spot from the RV park.
Once again, the issue of how to rate a rapid surfaced on this stretch. River rapid ratings are subjective assessments based on several factors: 1) the nature of whatever creates the rapid; 2) the water level; 3) type of watercraft and 4) skill level of the watercraft operator(s). The Verde River Guide should probably make some sort of at least cursory notation(s) about how the various stretches of river would rate accordingly.
Newton Lane has always been problematic but the "state-of-denial" about this spot continues to be annoying, perplexing and a genuine dis-service to the public. Back in the 1980's, it was evaluated as a potential SLIP RAP point. The land is on the Prescott National Forest. The Forest Engineers balked at developing this site because of the high voltage turbine pump installation there. Meanwhile, well over 20 years have passed and no one has done a thing to make access here as easier. Indeed, it appears to me that access here has become harder over the passage of time, definitely not easier. Somebody needs to take the bull by the horns and wrassle out some sort of consensus treatment of this spot that will allow the public to access the river safely in all weather conditions. This is a strategic public river access point. It is just above the Verde Ditch Diversion and the only public access downstream from Sheep Crossing. Surely, there's a way to get some compromise from the stakeholders here!
Bridgeport to Bignotti
Our primary comments about this stretch regard signage and conditions and RAP conditions.
Let's take RAP conditions first. We love Arizona State Parks, yes we do. However, we have to be very critical of how the Bridgeport RAP has been maintained. There's no excuse to let this parcel degrade into its current abysmal condition. We know there are a lot of volunteers who would readily be available to assist in regular and routine maintenance of this RAP. Think: "Adopt a RAP." A half-day session now and then could keep this place in tip-top shape. We'd really like to see some more "pride of ownership" expressed in the Bridgeport RAP. It's a hidden gem of an asset and deserves to shine brightly.
Next, the Bignotti RAP needs some help. While the Prescott National Forest is doing a very good job maintaining the access road and parking areas, the RAP is virtually invisible from the water level. Even though I am well familiar with the area, I had great difficulty deciding where to actually beach the boat and take out. Meanwhile, robust native riparian vegetation has made it very difficult to carry a canoe from the water's edge to the parking area. In a word, it's a grunt. Forest officials we know have no problem with what they call "train maintenance." We doubt that there will be any Forest Staff efforts any day soon expended at the Bignotti shoreline. That's why it's time for FOVRG and its partners to step up to the plate and "Adopt A RAP." There needs to be at least one very clear ingress-egress pathway from the parking area to the river's edge.
OK, let's move onto signage. First, let's take the topic of basic river information. Having an online river guide is a fine idea and one that should never be undone. However, many people are simply not going to EVER use an online river guide. They are simply going to show up at a RAP and take off, often without the slightest idea of what they might encounter downstream.
We learned this summer on our BLM Salmon River Guide Project that simple signage at each RAP can easily contain essential information about what's downstream. At the barest minimum, such a sign should tell users how far it is until the next public RAP, both in river miles and shuttle highway miles. We will post some photos of the BLM's multi-agency signage soon.
Next, there's needs to be a simple carsonite post placed near the river edge denoting the best spot for ingress-egress. In normal higher flows, these flexible carsonite signs will simply bend over and then spring back up after the flow subsides and normal debris is cleared away. Their cost is minimal so they can be replaced in case they are lost to abnormal high flows and/or vandalism.
We feel that some sort of signage should be placed to warn people of the complete river blockage on this stretch. This is the type of blockage that is not going to be swept away by the next so-called flood. If anything, each high flow episode will only serve to help the blockage become ever more daunting and entrenched. Situated as it is on a 90-degree bend in the river channel, higher flows will lose velocity here and simply use the reeds as a place to deposit waterborne debris.
It is our opinion that this blockage could easily be a genuine deathtrap at higher flows, even for experienced boaters. We talked with one Yavapai Search & Rescue member about this blockage who is knowledgeable about river issues. It is his opinion that the blockage could also endanger the lives of S&R personnel should they be called upon to attempt a rescue (or recovery) at this location. This is the type of hazard that clearly justifies advance warning. How, where and in what form this warning would be is problematic due to private property upstream. However, that does not diminish the need for such a warning.
Another commentary is about the Verde Village Property Owners' Association (VVPOA). Way back in the mid-1980's I was a political activist on behalf of the Verde River. I quickly heard that VVPOA would entertain ideas and possible proposals to partner with someone to manage their riparian lands. I heard this often throughout the 80's and 90's. Since I left the political arena in January 2001, I have lost track of where this interest has gone. However, I have a strong intuition that FOVRG and VVLPI could reinvigorate dialog about such possibilities. At a bare minimum, there needs to be a safe river access point ABOVE the channel blockage described here. People need to know they won't be trespassing if they decide to heed warning(s) and get off the river before being swept to possible injury or death.
A final commentary concerns a defunct SLIP site called "Skidmore Lane." This site should be assessed for a possible "resurrection" as a viable RAP for people who wish to float the river without worrying about the nearby upstream channel blockage.
Thanks for reading. jp
