Payson Roundup

Andy Towle/Roundup - atowle@payson.com

Storage containers intended to divert floodwaters instead became battered boats on Rye Creek in recent storms.

Several Connex style shipping containers allegedly being used to control flood waters that floated down Rye Creek just before Christmas, have been removed from the creek.

A Rye resident reported seeing several large shipping containers tumble down the creek after rising waters uprooted them from Paul Lewis’ property, located west of Highway 87 in Rye.

On Monday, a resident who lives south of the property, said the three containers were plucked out of the creek and put back on the property.

“He was reportedly using them to keep the creek from washing out his property by taking the tops off and filling them with creek rock,” said Supervisor Tommie Martin. “He did not get the rocks in all of them and they went downstream.”

Construction project manager with Gila County engineering department Jerry Farr said six or seven shipping containers were placed on the property, which is along the creek.

“When the river came up, only four were secured and the others floated away,” Farr said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over the creek and is still trying to get in touch with the owner.

Environmental protection specialist Ron Fowler said the Corps would try to obtain voluntary compliance from the landowner if any action was needed.

Fowler said the owner might be required to get a permit if the equipment is used as fill material.

The Lewis property is less than an acre, has no structures on it and appears to be used for storage, Farr said

“A major portion of the property is in the creek,” Farr said.