Roads washed out, buildings flooded
TONTO CREEK — Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) staff are assessing state fish hatcheries after heavy rainfall triggered severe flooding and damaged one hatchery.
The worst damage happened at the Tonto Creek Hatchery northeast of Payson. Rushing waters slammed into the feed room and bunkhouse, and floods washed out roads around the hatchery.
The area received more than two inches of rain this weekend, and the United States Geological Survey shows water levels on Tonto Creek near Roosevelt Lake rose from four feet late Saturday night to 16 feet Sunday afternoon.
“Tonto Creek Hatchery was hit hard by floodwaters,” said Wayne Jones, AZGFD Statewide Hatchery Program Administrator. “Our team used sand and salt bags to try to manage the rushing waters, but they couldn’t prevent damage to roads and buildings. The hatchery is closed to the public.”
Fortunately, the raceways holding thousands of fish remain intact at this time, and there has been no impact on fish stockings
Two other state fish hatcheries are closed to the public, and two more have been impacted by rains and flooding.
- Canyon Creek Hatchery: Floodwaters have not receded, and the hatchery is closed to the public.
- Silver Creek Hatchery: Water has crested the banks and access to Silver Creek is closed to the public.
- Bubbling Ponds Hatchery: Floodwaters from Oak Creek reached and inundated the bass house.
- Sterling Springs Hatchery: Power was knocked out and remains out at the facility.
Hatchery staff are closely monitoring water levels at all hatcheries and coordinating response efforts as conditions change.
AZGFD operates six hatcheries in Arizona, producing an average of 400,000 pounds of fish per year, or three million fish stocked into 118 locations across Arizona.
