AZGFD closes Tonto Creek Hatchery and other facilities after flood

Heavy weekend rainfall sent floodwaters surging through the Tonto Creek Hatchery northeast of Payson, damaging buildings, washing out surrounding access roads, and knocking out power across multiple state facilities, AZ Family reported.

The storm system dropped more than 2 inches of rain across the region, causing water levels on Tonto Creek near Roosevelt to spike dramatically. The gauge surged from just 4 feet late Saturday night up to 16 feet by Sunday afternoon, overwhelming local flood defenses.

Infrastructure Damage and Facility Closures

According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), the rushing water slammed directly into the facility’s feed room and bunkhouse. Staff members scrambled to protect the grounds.

Enjoyed spending time with the @azgfd, Payson Fly Casters and @TroutUnlimited at the Tonto Hatchery today to discuss ways to help streamline their operations through a possible land exchange.Appreciate all they do for such a key industry in #AZ02. pic.twitter.com/IJomvsYTIk

— https://x.com/RepEliCrane/status/2098198738732736708

“Our team used sand and salt bags to try to manage the rushing waters, but they couldn’t prevent damage to roads and buildings,” AZGFD statewide hatchery program administrator Wayne Jones said.

Despite the damage to access routes and structures, state wildlife officials confirmed that the concrete channels and holding tanks housing the fish remained intact. The fish themselves sustained no injuries from the flooding.

Even so, the physical damage forced closures. The Tonto Creek Hatchery, the Canyon Creek Hatchery near Forest Lakes, and the Silver Creek Hatchery close to Show Long are all currently closed to the public.

Widespread Power Outages and Extreme Weather Impact

The storm system’s reach extended well beyond the Payson area. The extreme weather also struck the Bubbling Ponds Hatchery in Cornville, where floodwaters from Oak Creek breached the bass house. Further south, Sedona’s Sterling Springs Hatchery lost power during the storm, with outages stretching into Monday afternoon.

AZGFD personnel are actively inspecting hatcheries across the state to assess the full scope of the weather event. Together, the state’s network of six hatcheries produces an average of 400,000 pounds of fish annually, supplying roughly 3 million fish to 118 locations throughout Arizona.