Friends of the Forest Volunteers Assist the National Forest Service with Oak Creek Water Sampling

An important element of the National Forest Service’s public lands management mission is protecting the public from biological contaminates in the waterways in the National Forests. In the Sedona area, the Red Rock Ranger District has identified five sampling sites, one above Slide Rock State Park, Grasshopper Point, Crescent Moon, Mormon Crossing and Spring Creek Crossing for monitoring.

For eight years, the Forest Service has relied on volunteers from the Sedona’s Friends of the Forest to take water samples. Volunteers are trained to follow Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) procedures to take water samples from the proper location and depth, record the water temperature, time of day, weather conditions and any human or animal activity near the water sample site. The samples are then immediately transported in iced containers to inhibit additional bacterial growth to testing facilities at Slide Rock State Park.

Grasshopper point has tested high levels of E. coli since Memorial Day and has been closed by the Forest Service to swimming. Al Cornell stated that contamination levels in Oak Creek are very localized and although contamination was found at Grasshopper Point, Slide Rock State Park and Crescent Moon have been testing within safe levels.

Water Sampling committee chairperson, Barbara Saul, heads a cadre of six 2-man teams comprised of members of the Friends of the Forest who monitor these five sites on a weekly basis. Samples are taken from the beginning of May until the end of September.

If you are interested in becoming involved with the Friends or for more information about the Friends of the Forest, you are invited to contact the Red Rock Ranger Station at (928) 282-4119 and also visit our website at: http://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org .

Friends of the Forest member Al Cornell annotates his log after taking water samples from Oak Creek at Grasshopper Point.

Swimming at Grasshopper Point is restricted due to the presence of high bacteria levels.