Mountain creek closed due to habitat damage from wildfire

SAFFORD, Ariz. – A scenic creek on Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona is closed temporarily to fishing because of habitat damage from a summer wildfire.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department says Frye Creek is closed for evaluation and restoration of Gila trout, a trout species native to Arizona.

The wildfire and later flooding moved ash, sediment and debris through Frye Creek and nearby Ash Creek, and the department says a recent survey didn’t find any fish.

The department says it hopes to reopen Frye Creek to fishing once habitat is suitable for stocking and a population is established.

The department says it helps the population’s recovery prospects that 190 Gila trout were salvaged from the two creeks just before flooding. Those fish were transported to a federal fish hatchery in New Mexico.