PHOENIX -  As it prepares to decommission two hydroelectric power plants to return natural water flows to a rare travertine stream and restore a home for native fish, Arizona Public Service (APS) has received the Conservationist of the Year Award from the Arizona/New Mexico Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. 

Members of the Arizona/New Mexico chapter, many of whom are biologists with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, presented the award to APS on Feb. 4 at the chapter's annual meeting in Gallup, New Mexico. APS received the award for working with the department and many other state, federal and private partners as part of the upcoming decommissioning of the Childs and Irving Power Plants. 

The APS decision to cease power generation at the nearly 100-year-old facility on Fossil Creek came at a financial cost to the company. APS is not only ending power generation at this facility, but also spending money to restore and monitor the project area. Staff at Childs-Irving are preparing for a return of full water flows this spring. Eventually, Fossil Creek has the potential to become a blue-ribbon roundtail chub fishery, which will make it unique not just in Arizona, but possibly the nation as well.

"In decommissioning the Childs-Irving facility, APS has given a gift to Arizona that will help ensure native fish populations thrive in Fossil Creek," said Scott Bryan, department biologist and president of the Arizona-New Mexico Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. "We commend APS for this historic decision."  

Throughout the process, APS has welcomed new ideas, accepted changing plans and adapted to constantly evolving schedules.  Of particular note is the work of Bill Post, chief executive officer of Pinnacle West (parent company of APS), who decided to return full flows, then convinced his board of directors to follow through with the decommissioning process. 

"Phoenix APS staff, led by Nick Svor and Phil Smithers, have shown a great deal of patience and professionalism in leading a project that has spanned well over 20 years," Bryan added. Svol and Smithers accepted the award on behalf of APS.