Independent Newsmedia

An Arizona Game and Fish Department and Central Arizona Project reminder to anglers and recreationists that fishing and swimming are prohibited in CAP canals sparked some memories and words of caution from Independent readers. Here’s what they had to say on social media:

 From NextDoor

• “If you want to fish, there are many canals that branch off the CAP that are not fenced. Striper action is good, especially at night. But be careful and definitely no swimming … we used to water ski on the San Carlos Project canal down by Coolidge in the ’70s. Pair of $ 4 swap meet skis and a 1964 Mercury Comet. No fences on that canal. Back then we had to make our entertainment.” — Eric OMara
• “I guess water skiing behind a car is frowned upon now but that is what we used to do in the ’50s … our favorite canal swimming hole was just east of 56th street and Indian School Road. One day five of us kids parked our bikes next to a big cottonwood tree that used to line the banks, stripped down and jumped in. While we were swimming, a family of six drove up to the tree and spread out a picnic lunch. We finally had to wave over the father and ask him to move our pile of clothes down the bank about 100 yards so we could get out. Got a bunch of cat calls as we rode off! — Rick Griffin

 From NewsBreak

• “I didn’t know the whole CAP is illegal to fish or get water from. They have areas that nothing is posted and no gates are up. So they better get this stuff posted in areas without signs. I have seen plants and areas where it’s posted and they need to have it posted, last time I checked, every certain amount of feet. I used to do security. Learned that the companies may try to make people do things but unless the correct signs are posted they ain’t liable. Certain areas the CAP is going to be really dangerous. Also not all canals are owned by CAP. They may be owned by SRP or another water source company. They use water for energy and the water levels can shift drastically when generating energy or sending water to another area. The few canals I knew were CAP were gated and had signs all over the place.” — Paul Feasel
• “My mom was born in ’69 and she told me they used to swim in the canals all the time. Hearing this in like ’96 was crazy because they were so gross and trashed. Crazy that it went from swimmable to swamp in like 20 years.” — YeOldePub
• “They can suction you under where equipment is. Florence canals had that!” — Carol Ortiz