Talk:Havasu Creek

Navajo Falls

Navajo Falls were named after an old Supai chief? Is it just a coincidence that another explanation leaps out at me? Rojomoke (talk) 09:28, 23 May 2014 (UTC)

Is Fiftyfoot Falls (aka Supai Falls) the same as New Navajo Falls (aka Upper Navajo Falls)?

I've run across several mentions of Fiftyfoot Falls, aka Supai Falls. When I was in Supai, I even bought a t-shirt naming Supai Falls. I've just run across a 1996 government report -- When the Blue-Green Waters Turn Red -- found at http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1996/wri96-4059/ , which links to the report as a pdf file. The report goes into great detail about Supai's waterfalls. It notes that Fiftyfoot Falls is the first waterfall in the area (i.e., the most upstream). It also states that it's very unstable, disappearing and then reappearing a few years or few decades later.

If I interpret things correctly, Fiftyfoot Falls been flowing since at least 1970. It wasn't very prominent, and it tended to be ignored. According to the World Waterfall Database (http://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Fiftyfoot-Falls-14197/ ), when the 2008 flood destroyed the old Navajo Falls, Fiftyfoot Falls become larger and more visible. It has since been informally renamed as New Navajo Falls, or Upper Navajo Falls. It seems that the USGS still officially calls it Fiftyfoot Falls.

Is this correct? If so, the article entry for Upper Navajo Falls should be edited to reflect the history of the falls, including all four names. --Larry (talk) 21:46, 24 September 2014 (UTC)

To further muddy the waters (sorry about that), http://www.indiancountrynews.com/index.php/news/news-sub/8-breaking-news/6669-havasupai-reopen-flooded-site-to-visitors says that "At another waterfall, 50-Foot Falls [sic], the travertine eroded, moving the waterfall back closer to the community. Two new waterfalls formed in a deep gorge cut by the floodwaters." Well, if the two new falls are Upper Navajo and Lower Navajo, AND "50-Foot Falls" also exists, then that's one too many waterfalls, isn't it? --Larry (talk) 03:15, 25 September 2014 (UTC)

OK then. I added a new section to the article -- "Other waterfalls". I found no contradictions to the existence of Fiftyfoot Falls, but there's at least some doubt as to whether it's the same as Upper Navajo Falls (I think it is, but that's clearly not good enough). The wording of the text in Section "Upper Navajo Falls", and maybe elsewhere, may need some work. --Larry (talk) 20:53, 30 September 2014 (UTC)

Water Temperature

Ask almost anyone about the water temperature of Havasu Creek, and they'll say it's more or less around 70 degrees year round. The same is true if you check social media sites, or personal websites. HOWEVER, these don't constitute reliable sources; worse yet, I'm beginning to think they're wrong. The USGS reports water temps for Havasu Creek just about its mouth. Create a chart, and it shows temperatures varying from the low 50s in the winter, to the mid 70s in the summer (for example, try this chart at https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&site_no=09404115&period=&begin_date=2016-09-14&end_date=2019-09-14 ). There's also a report at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2190488 for "Humpback Chub Translocation to Havasu Creek, 2012" by the NPS. It has a graph based on unpublished data, and shows average daily temps from 1999 to 2005; the range is similar. At the least, the current claim should be removed. I'm tempted to add a phrase about annual variation from the 50s in winter, to the 70s in summer. Comments? --Larry/Traveling_Man (talk) 01:24, 15 September 2019 (UTC)

OK, I've made the change. --Larry/Traveling_Man (talk) 15:23, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

Fiftyfoot Falls redux

By now, it's become pretty clear that, in the flood of 2008, Fiftyfoot Falls became more prominent. Some people called it New Navajo Falls, or Upper Navajo Falls, but "Fiftyfoot Falls" is the name used by the USGS, the World Waterfall Database, and even the Havasupai tribe's website (at http://theofficialhavasupaitribe.com/ ). I've attempted to make changes to reflect that fact, but I wouldn't be surprised if I missed some cleanup. --Larry/Traveling_Man (talk) 23:50, 16 September 2019 (UTC)

Hiking?

Why is this article listed as of any importance to hiking and backpacking? I suspect that there might be one but this isn't explained in the arcticle's content.

Indeed. As it appears very popular with readers as well as hikers and backpackers it will be worth some research an article improvement. I will check rating/inportance and add it to WP:BPCK to do list. —¿philoserf? (talk) 00:06, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

Personally I find the assessment ridiculous, but I don't really have much faith in the system. This appears to be an insignificant page, as far as I can tell.Rwood128 (talk) 00:59, 20 March 2020 (UTC)

In my opinion importance is not about the page. It is about the subject of the page. This article does not reflect the interest of the backpacking community, thus a mid level importance to the backpacking project. An editor should improve this articles coverage of notable interest by the backpacking community. —¿philoserf? (talk) 01:05, 20 March 2020 (UTC)