The Arizona Game & Fish Department plans to shut down a 3 mile stretch of pristine, spring fed Haigler Creek and administer the chemical rotenone, which will kill all fish and other aquatic organisms in this area of the creek. Rotenone is a piscicide and a pesticide. It is highly toxic to fish and insects and it is mildly toxic to mammals. It is considered "moderately hazardous" by the World Health Organization and some studies have shown that can cause Parkinson-like symptoms in mice.

Their plan includes building a fish barrier, killing all non-native fish, and then administering the chemical potassium permanganate to try to neutralize the rotenone. Their goal is to reintroduce native Gila trout to the area. They want to kill the Brown and Rainbow trout that currently inhabit the creek so that the species cannot interbreed and the Gila trout can flourish. If they follow through on their plan, it would be at least 3 years before anyone could fish in the area.

A similar project was undertaken at Fossil Creek and it is reported that the Arizona and US agencies spent around $200,000 dollars to kill non-native fish and reintroduce Gila trout. This is costing tax payers a lot of money.

But more importantly, residents in the area of Pleasant Valley are very concerned that the use of these chemicals could potentially find their way into our water table and well water. We also want to preserve this pristine creek from contamination of any sort. Haigler Creek is one of few creeks left in AZ that is not considered "impaired." Residents are not against the department reintroducing native fish; they simply believe that the agency should look for ways to solve the problem without causing different (and possibly more serious) problems to the health of our community and wildlife.

Please support us in asking AZ Game & Fish to reevaluate the potential harm their plan could have on the environment.