Saguaro Trail Crew Assists with Post-Fire Trail Damage at Tonto National Monument

Trail before (left) and after (right) rehabilitation as a result of damage from the Woodbury fire.

Left: NPS/E MARTIN; Right: NPS/M MONAHAN

In summer 2019, when the human-caused Woodbury Fire in the Tonto National Forest threatened cultural resources in the Tonto National Monument, NPS staff and responders took steps to protect cliff dwellings and other cultural resources. These operations were successful; however, the fire still impacted soil conditions creating unstable trails, increased flood hazard, and greater risk of falling rocks or trees. These conditions can impact visitor and staff safety for years to come. Efforts to mitigate these hazards are underway.

In fall 2019, a trail crew from Saguaro National Park assisted Tonto National Monument mitigating trail damage that resulted from soil movement after the Woodbury Fire. Fire-related flood flows are normally elevated and typically move ash, soil, rock, and floatable woody debris, increasing the potential for resource damage in an area impacted by wildfire.

In addition to trail mitigation, the crew removed debris from culverts throughout the park and repaired damage to the trails. A landscape architect was hired to redesign water surface flow impacting the picnic area and rerouting water into existing culverts. The park also worked with a structural engineer from National Park Service Interior regions 6, 7, and 8 on a plan to remove hazardous debris above the large double culverts that support the entrance road. This plan includes stabilizing and rock armoring the drainage bank damaged during the September 2019 two hundred-year flood event.

The trail, used to take tours to the Upper Cliff Dwelling, is one of the main attractions at Tonto National Monument. It took an extraordinary effort from NPS trail crews to re-open the trail for safe use. The impressive workmanship also eliminated several areas of deferred maintenance during the project. The trail was redesigned in some parts of the riparian area and is now a sustainable and safe feature for future generations.