RED ROCK CROSSING BRIDGE HISTORY

Since 1850 there is record of Red Rock Crossing being used by pioneers, stagecoaches, and locals. By 1891 a crossing was shown on maps and the crossing was used by locals sending their children to school.

In 1938 storms washed out the crossing and the Sherman family moved the crossing to connect trails in the present location of Verde Valley School Road and Earl Drive.

In 1952 new owners, the Schnurs, dedicated the roadway "to the public forever". But, in 1978 the low water crossing washed out again and was not repaired.

Between 1982 and 1983 public pressure surfaced to reinstate the crossing but the U.S. Forest Service had plans for a new Crescent Moon Park and asked the County to move their easement downstream. That was done ( see attached map ). In 1983, the Forest Service granted Yavapai County an EASEMENT for the construction, operation and maintenance of a highway , commonly known as Verde Valley School Road. The EASEMENT is 100 feet wide across Oak Creek and 350 feet West of the historic low water crossing.

In 1991 an Environmental Assessment was done for the proposed park, which determined that an Environmental Impact Statement was not necessary because there "were no significant effects on the unique characteristics at the crossing and there would be no significant effects on threatened or endangered species". The Sierra Club appealed the decision but their challenge was denied.

In Spring 1993, CFAR was formed with the purpose to support a site for an alternate route between the Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona. In Fall, 1993, after extensive research, study , and deliberation, CFAR chose Red Rock Crossing as the most feasible site for an alternate route, mainly because the easement and the roads were already there.

Yavapai County must have U.S. Forest Service Permission before a crossing or bridge can begin. In order to get that approval, the issue has to go through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In October, 1996 Yavapai County Supervisor Carlton Camp acquired County funding of $165,000 to hire a consultant to perform the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Carlton Camp did not run for election in 1996 and Arlo G. "Chip" Davis was elected. Members of the 4Rs and thee local Sierra Club worked on his campaign and contributed monetarily. In January, 1997 Davis withdrew County funding for the NEPA process -- thus ending progress for the alternate route.

In April, 1997 Supervisor Davis announced his interest in a new route (the West airport Mesa Corridor) which took a route through Back O' Beyond Rd., then crosses Oak Creek and moves North to connect with Shelby Drive in West Sedona. The proposal created more opposition by far than support.

CFAR Board of Directors resolved to file a lawsuit contesting Yavapai County's obligation to maintain the crossing as part of a county highway. In 1999, the lawsuit was lost--but the issue was that the county WAS NOT FORCED BY LAW TO REBUILD THE CROSSING.

No issues about easements or the future possibility of a crossing / bridge were affected or erased.

CFAR basically went quiet for nearly three years and re-organization occurred in late 2002, with new officers and board members in Spring 2003. An extensive public opinion survey was conducted by an independent third-party firm and showed overwhelming public support for an alternate route utilizing existing resources -- needing only to bridge the Red Rock crossing.

Rendering of Proposed Red Rock Crossing Bridge