tresrios
At Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) NASCAR’s elite race car drivers negotiate thrilling turns on the one mile circuit. Fans enjoy race cars that average over 100 miles per hour from one of PIR’s 70,000 plus seats while the roar of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 can be heard from miles around. Outside the track, authorities are in a heated race of their own to halt illegal activities that are defiling the revitalization efforts of environmental sites.
On Oct. 15, 2009 County Attorney Andrew Thomas held a press conference at the confluence of the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria Rivers to outline a plan to restore the Tres Rios Riparian Refuge, a revitalized ecological site in the west Valley which includes a portion of the Community’s Westend. Thomas is aligning with Arizona Game and Fish as well as local law enforcement to put the brakes on activities that range from illicit dumping, trespassing, gang and drug crimes. “We are going to be reaching out to all partners in law enforcement and among the people here in Maricopa County to work together to clean up and preserve the Tres Rios refuge,” Thomas said. “The Gila River [Indian] Community would be an important part of that.”
Efforts include increased patrols and investigations into illegal activities as well as a focus on crimes that contribute to the environmental degradation of the Tres Rios Riparian Refuge. “It would be great to have support from your Nation on this when we do a major clean up in March,” said Thomas referring to the role of GRIC during clean ups in the spring at the Tres Rios Festival.
The Community is also involved in its own restoration efforts. Projects include the Pee-Posh Wetlands on 91st Ave north of Baseline and the Gila River Wetlands which is south of the Tres Rios Project. Army Corp of Engineers is working with GRIC to define their own Tres Rios Project along the Westend.
The area in and around the Tres Rios area remains volatile due to drug and human smuggling and the firing of weapons. Drug labs were reportedly located in the area where human and animal remains were recovered. The dumping of toxic materials and industrial waste is active as are incidents involving illegal hunting and angling.
Through a special grant the GRIC’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was able to remove 86 tons of trash from the Pee-Posh wetlands. Cleaning costs for Tres Rios and surrounding Community sites are in the millions of dollars. In times of recession and cutbacks, there is simply inadequate funding to address the issue in its entirety.
Development of adjacent communities brings encroachment issues to the forefront for GRIC. Through funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) a number of gates were installed which proved helpful in keeping trespassers out.
The problems in the Tres Rios region barely echo the severity of illegal dumping and misuse of the land located in the expanse of the Community. “Trash grows more trash,” said Corporal Richard Sichling of the Special Services Division/Rangers with GRPD.
Typical dump sites include, TVs, tires, wrecked furniture, used oil, cans of paint and other building materials such as concrete dry wall and roofing material. Used oil along with acetone and weed killer has very high drainage potential to contaminate ground water.
Large items that are illegally dumped within the Community have a tendency to be used as objects aimed at for target practice. The mercury found in TVs and lead in paint contaminates the aquifer and endanger local wildlife.
Similarly, around the Tres Rios Riparian Refuge sewage affluent streams are mistaken for natural rivers. Despite signage, it is very common to see entire families having an outing of swimming, and fishing in sewage. The fish in the sewage are also often consumed as people continue to use streams from the sewer for recreation.
A major clean up of the area begins in March of 2010. “My hope is now that we can build on that to preserve the area and clean it up and restore it to its original luster,” Thomas said.
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