Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Facilities consisted of two 20th-century power plants, a dam, and related infrastructure along or near
Fossil Creek in the U.S. state of
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. The complex was named an
Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1971 and was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
20 years later. Decommissioned in 2005, the plants no longer produce electricity, and much of the infrastructure—including the dam, the Irving Power Plant, and thousands of feet of concrete
flumes—have been removed, and the creek's original flow has been restored.
History
The water rights of Fossil Creek, which flows from the
Mogollon Rim
The Mogollon Rim ( or or ) is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately , starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border ...
near
Strawberry, Arizona
Strawberry is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Gila County, Arizona, United States. The population was 961 at the 2010 census.
History
In June 1931, the Bureau of Prohibition destroyed a large whiskey still in San ...
, to the
Verde River downstream of
Camp Verde
Camp Verde ( yuf-x-yav, ʼMatthi:wa; Western Apache: Gambúdih) is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town is 10,873.
The town hosts an annual corn festival in July, sponsored and orga ...
, were purchased in 1900 by rancher Lew Turner. His goal was to generate hydroelectric power for sale to mining communities in the
Bradshaw Mountains and
Black Hills
The Black Hills ( lkt, Ȟe Sápa; chy, Moʼȯhta-voʼhonáaeva; hid, awaxaawi shiibisha) is an isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, United States. Black Elk P ...
in
Yavapai County, such as the copper mines at
Jerome
Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, th ...
.
Arizona Power Company—later a part of the
Arizona Public Service Company
Arizona Public Service (APS) is the largest electric utility in Arizona, United States. Since 1985, it has been the principal subsidiary of publicly traded S&P 500 member Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, known as AZP Group until 1987. Pinnacle ...
(APS)—began construction of the Childs Power Plant in 1908. Because the land around Fossil Creek consists mainly of mountainous terrain and canyons, and the nearest railroad station was in
Mayer, more than 400 mules and 600 men were used to pull more than 150 wagons along the trail from Mayer to the stream. Most of the workers were
Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
and
Mojave Indians, who built a dam, powerhouse, and about of concrete flumes to carry water to the Childs plant, along the Verde River near the mouth of the creek.
The Irving plant, along the creek between Childs and
Fossil Springs, was constructed in 1915–16.
The system of canyons and steep falls from the springs to the Verde River outlet provided an ideal location for a hydroelectric plant. The constant flow of from the springs, the creek's main water source, was also a factor in site selection.
Once completed, the two plants combined to produce 4.2 megawatts of electrical power.
To build the Childs plant, the Arizona Power Company raised money through investment bonds sold by William Bonbright and Company. The plant was named for S. W. Childs, the Bonbright Company's bond-broker. The Irving plant was named for Irving Bonbright, a co-founder of the Bonbright Company. The reservoir known as Stehr Lake was named for Frederick W. Stehr, treasurer of the Arizona Power Company.
The
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is an American professional association that, in its own words, "promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe" via "continuing ...
named Childs-Irving an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1976. In 1991, Childs-Irving was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2005, after assessing costs, the plants' relatively low production of electricity, and the goodwill to be generated from stream restoration, APS closed both power plants. In 2008, APS removed the diversion dam, the flumes, and access roads, and planted native vegetation near the dam site.
File:Interior of Childs power plant (MS-2-1.4-1.018).jpg, Interior of Childs power plant
File:Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Facilities power lines.jpg, Power lines on the Childs plant roof
Image:childs2.jpg, The Childs plant
Image:childs3.jpg, The Childs plant
Image:childs4.jpg, Bridge over the turbine outlets at the Childs plant
Image:childs5.jpg, One of the turbine outlets in operation
Image:childs6.jpg, Water from the Childs turbines flows into the Verde River.
Flume and tunnels
The first stage of development included a flume and tunnels made of concrete.
Image:flume1.jpg, Flume
Image:flume3.jpg, Flume
Image:flume7.jpg, Flume
Stehr Lake
Between the Irving and Childs plants, the creek water exited the flume and tunnels and entered an artificial reservoir, Stehr Lake. The lake provided a backup water supply for the Childs plant when the flume system above the lake was shut down for maintenance. The lake held enough water to run the plant normally for 3.5 days.
Image:stehr4.jpg, The flow from the flume is moderated as it enters Stehr Lake.
Image:stehr2.jpg, Stehr Lake
Image:stehr1.jpg, Stehr Lake
Fossil Springs and Creek were so named due to the large amount of
calcium carbonate in the water, causing bone-like deposits, or
travertine
Travertine ( ) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties. It is formed by a pro ...
, to form in and around the creek bed.
See also
*
Fossil Springs Wilderness
Fossil Springs Wilderness is an 11,550-acre (4,674 ha) wilderness area within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is at the bottom of a steep canyon at the edge of the Colorado Plateau, just south of the Mogollon Rim. ...
References
External links
APS Childs-Irving Collectionat the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
*, plus 32 additional records on individual components
{{Generating stations in Arizona
Energy infrastructure completed in 1909
Energy infrastructure completed in 1916
Dams in Arizona
Hydroelectric power plants in Arizona
Dams on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona
Buildings and structures in Yavapai County, Arizona
Mogollon Rim
1909 establishments in Arizona Territory
Historic American Engineering Record in Arizona
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Arizona
National Register of Historic Places in Yavapai County, Arizona
Arizona Public Service