Sedona, AZ – By Tommy Acosta …

Former Environmental Protection Agency Engineer and Consultant Ron Vernesoni, a Sedona resident, is on a mission – to educate the community on the environmental dangers posed to Oak Creek by the winter flooding and current-bridge construction at the “Y.”

For the last two days he has been standing in the cold at the “Y” holding a sign reading “Save Oak Creek” hoping motorists and pedestrians will take the time to recognize the potential-environmental disaster Oak Creek could face should the flooding intensify without proper safeguards at the “Y” be in place.

“The runoff from large amounts of rainfall and snow melt from Flagstaff has overtopped the temporary culverts installed under the “Y” bridge,” Mr. Vernesoni said. “The potential now exists that tons of imported dirt, rubble, cobbles and debris, dislodged by the flooding, will flow downstream and negatively impact the Riparian balance of Oak Creek. This is in violation of the Clean Water Act standards as Oak Creek is under the protection of this act. The responsible regulatory agencies, through lack of oversight, are not providing the level of protection Oak Creek deserves.”

He said sediment transported down Oak Creek along with the pollutants construction projects produce like phosphorous, potassium and toxic traces metals in the sediment can quickly destroy aquatic habitat and pollute important water supplies.

“Sediments cover, bury and smother bottom-dwelling creatures and fish-spawning areas,” he said. “Erosion causes increased sedimentation of waterways, which contribute to flooding and reduces the aesthetic value of streams.”

He said the entire flow of the creek has been diverted into two-five feet in diameter culverts during construction of the new bridge and that during the latest series of storms the culverts have been topped by the flood waters, which are now carrying construction sediment downstream that can clog the gills of fish.

“The uncontrolled-downstream transport of construction sediment is against the law,” he said. “Projects like this should never be allowed to start without work plans in place that absolutely guarantee environmental protection, especially during flood season.

He said individuals concerned with the environmental quality of Oak Creek should write to:

Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator

EPA Region 9

75 Hawthorne St.

San Francisco, CA 94105

Joan Card, Director of Water Quality Division

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

1110 West Washington Street

Phoenix, AZ 85007-2952

Colonel Thomas H. Magness

US Army of Engineers

Los Angeles District

915 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 980

Los Angeles, CA 90017