Lower Salt River clean-up set for Sept. 13
| Share or Bookmark: |
Lower Salt River clean-up set for Sept. 13
The annual Lower Salt River clean up is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.
This is one of the busiest recreation spots on the Tonto National Forest, the Lower Salt River Recreation Area hosts thousands of visitors every summer weekend. Many visitors leave trash behind, creating an unsightly and dangerous mess.
To help restore this unique area back to its natural beauty in celebration of National Public Lands Day, the Mesa Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest is hosting the 29th Annual Salt River Clean-up on Sept. 13.
Event registration is 7 to 9 a.m. at the Pebble Beach Recreation Site. The clean-up begins immediately after registration and will continue until around noon when lunch and beverages will be provided free to volunteers.
For more information or to pre-register, contact Sheryl Yerkovich at the Mesa Ranger District at (480) 610-3332 or contact her by e-mail at syerkovich@fs.fed.us or register online at the Tonto National Forest Web page at www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto.
Trash bags and parking for volunteers are free for the day’s events. Participants are urged to wear close-toed, rubber-soled shoes that can be worn in and around water, as well as sun screen, and gloves. A majority of the clean-up will occur on shore near the water; however, some efforts are needed on water. Those equipped with kayaks or rafts are encouraged to join in the clean-up.
Can you give me instructions on how to locate/find this Lower Salt River.
Would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Roland Richer
The best bet is to check out interactive fishing map site at http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/where_fish.shtml. You can get detailed directions.
However, the Lower Salt starts at Stewart Mountain Dam that backs up Saguaro Lake. How to get there depends on which direction you are coming from. From Scottsdale or Phoenix take Highway 87 north (Beeline Highway) and get off on Bush Highway toward Saguaro Lake, and take Bush past the lake to the Lower Salt River. Or basically where Bush Highway makes a huge curve to the right it’s so you don’t get wet in the river.
Rory
Can I kayak on the Lower Salt River when tubing is not happening?
David;
I don’t know of any kayaking restrictions even during tubing time, but right now at more than 400 cfs and the prospect of even greater flows it is a dream to paddle the river. Even if you don’t fish from your kayak, there are spots along the river (deep holes next to fast runs) best reached via kayak, canoe or inflatable that are worth stopping and getting out to fish. I have even caught lunker largemouth this way and an occasional walleye or smallmouth bass. I have also had other large fish break my line in such holes.
So yes, by all means, kayak the Lower Salt. Most people work from the Water Users to the Blue Point Bridge. But some like to do the whole 14-mile reach to Granite Reef.
But keep you eyes open – I have seen desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and once even a mountain lion along this stretch. If you look at the map, it’s just a breath away from the major urban area, yet when you are recreating there it has all the feel of a wilderness. In realty, it borders the Superstition Wilderness.
Rory
Hey David,
I just came back from the Lower Salt. I floated and fished the entire stretch over 3 days. The trip was beautiful and the weather was perfect. Cool nights and warm days make for a great river trip. I floated a small pontoon, but saw a bunch of other people in kayaks, many of which were having good luck paddling upstream! I had to float downriver abd have my wife shuttle me, how nice of her! Make sure you grab a Tonto Pass at the Walgreens befpre you enter the rec area. You don’t want to have to back track! Have fun!