Fossil Creek had its flow diverted to power plants for around 100 years, until 2005 when the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) decommissioned the power plants and returned the flow to its normal state.
One of the main contributors to the restoration of Fossil Creek was Northern Arizona University. NAU had a team that collected baseline data and tracked changes over time. They wanted to reintroduce native fish and reestablish travertine pools created by the calcium-rich water of Fossil Creek. They also worked with the U.S. Forest Service on adaptive management strategies.
The Game and Fish Department closed Fossil Creek to fishing until 2007 to give the native fish time to recover and adapt.
The restoration was a success, as it has become a model for succeeding restoration work on old dams throughout the nation. It has also seen the native fish population grow beyond expectations.
There was also a documentary made about the restoration by NAU, which can be seen more in-depth at http://www.mpcer.nau.edu/riverreborn/.
Others involved included the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as the Yavapai-Apache Nation, American Rivers, Arizona Riparian Council, Center for Biological Diversity, The Nature Conservancy, and Northern Arizona Audubon Society.
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