Agua Fria River Access

[Outdoor Writer]

Recreationists getting temporary vehicular access to Agua Fria Conservation Area at Lake Pleasant

 

PHOENIX – The Lake Pleasant Regional Park is allowing recreationists temporary, Friday- through-Sunday-only motorized access to a designated portion of the Agua Fria Conservation Area for six weeks (April 11 through May 18) via the former access point along Table Mesa Road just west of Interstate 17.

 

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is working in conjunction with the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department on this temporary six-week effort to allow recreational access from Friday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and to collect user data that will be used in the long-range planning efforts for this important conservation area.

 

Arizona Game and Fish Department officers will be on hand at the entry point on Table Mesa Road to help direct recreational users along a flagged route to the designated parking area adjacent to the lake. Wildlife officers will be collecting vital user data.

 

“We applaud Maricopa County for allowing recreationists this valuable interim access that is so important during the spring fishing season. We encourage anglers and other recreational users to please keep their vehicles on the designated road and parking areas,” said Pat Crouch, a field supervisor with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

 

Once the six-week period expires, the area will revert to being closed to motorized vehicles; however, the area will remain open to walk-in traffic.

 

The Agua Fria Conservation Area was closed to motorized travel in July of 2007 because of a range of illegal activities such as illegal dumping, indiscriminant shooting and irresponsible off-road use. Safety had become an issue, as well as resource damage.

 

Tons of illegal, unsightly garbage has been removed during several clean-up efforts since the motorized vehicle closure. Another clean up effort is scheduled for April 19.

 

A portion of the Agua Fria Arm of the lake is closed to boater access from Dec. 15 to June 15 every year to accommodate nesting bald eagles. Once the eagle closure is lifted on June 15, anglers and other water recreationists will regain boating access to the Agua Fria via the waterway.

 

“We are confident we can arrive at equitable long-term solutions that will provide necessary and appropriate recreational access while also protecting and maintaining this valuable conservation area for present and future generations,” Crouch said.

 

Anglers and other recreationists can also help clean up the area leading to the Agua Fria Conservation Area. The Bureau of Land Management, in collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition (AZOHV) and the Good Gun Foundation, is hosting the clean-up in Table Mesa Road area from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 19. The event is also supported by the Arizona Virtual Jeep Club, Arizona Rock Rats, and Absolute Offroad.

 

For questions on the clean-up, contact Mary Skordinsky, BLM Lead Outdoor Recreation Planner, (623) 580-5586, or Nena Barlow, AZOHV Public Relations, (928) 274-0570.

 

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[COOSEFAN]

That is where i took my pups last weekend to play in the water. Not long ago that area was turning into a dump fast with all the trashy people tearin' the place up. It used to be a favorite spot becuase you could get away with not paying a fee to access the lake.....that was what drew all the trashy people there! It was good to see the place cleaned up, but there were still people breaking the rules with offroad driving and not obeying the signs. There was a G+F officer at the entry point as stated also. JIM>

[Red Rabbit]

Too bad this is opening after the white bass (changed from "whites" for Bill's sake ) make their run. The Agua Fria was running this year, but I had heard the access was closed, so I did not drive down from Flag for some fun fishing.