Category Archives: Flagstaff

Coconino NF closing developed recreation sites

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., March 24, 2020 — Coconino National Forest has closed its developed recreation and day-use sites indefinitely to protect public and employee health, as well as align with state and local measures already in place to lessen the impact of COVID-19.

The vast majority of the forest is still open to visitors who want to spend time outdoors participating in recreational opportunities that support social distancing, such as hiking and biking on trails, and dispersed camping.

However, the following developed recreation sites, facilities, and restrooms are closed. More sites may close in the future, depending on the situation, as circumstances can change rapidly in response to COVID-19:

Day-Use Sites

  1. Banjo Bill Picnic Site
  2. Bootlegger Picnic Site
  3. Clints Well Picnic Site
  4. Encinoso Picnic Site
  5. Fossil Creek Area
  6. Halfway Picnic Site
  7. Long Valley Day-Use Site
  8. Oak Creek Vista

Group Campgrounds

  1. Chavez Crossing Group Campground
  2. Clear Creek Group Campground
  3. Dairy Springs Group Campground
  4. Elks Group Group Campground
  5. Long Valley Work Center Group Campground
  6. Moqui Group Campground
  7. O’Leary Group Campground

Heritage Sites

  1. Honanki Heritage Site
  2. Palatki Heritage Site
  3. V Bar V Heritage Site

Rental Cabins

  1. Apache Maid Cabin
  2. Crescent Moon Cabin
  3. Fernow Cabin
  4. Kendrick Cabin

Single Family Unit Campgrounds

  1. Ashurst Lake Campground
  2. Bonito Campground
  3. Blue Ridge Campground
  4. Canyon Vista Campground
  5. Cave Springs Campground
  6. Clear Creek Campground
  7. Clints Well Campground
  8. Dairy Springs Campground
  9. Double Springs Campground
  10. Kehl Springs Campground
  11. Knoll Lake Campground
  12. Lakeview Campground
  13. Little Elden Springs Campground
  14. Lockett Meadow Campground
  15. Manzanita Campground
  16. Pine Flat Campground
  17. Pine Grove Campground
  18. Rock Crossing Campground

Visitor Centers

  1. Red Rock Ranger Station & Visitor Center
  2. Oak Creek Visitor Center

Notifications to those who have made any reservations will be made as soon as possible and refunds will be processed.

Visitors should mitigate resource impacts wherever they recreate by taking their trash with them when they depart and appropriately managing human waste by burying it at least 6-8 inches deep and 200 feet away from water, trails and recreation sites.

All Coconino National Forests offices are conducting business and providing services virtually. While being outside is believed to be safer than indoor spaces, visitors to national forests are urged to take the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended precautions.

Members of the public who have additional questions that cannot be answered through the Coconino National Forest website can contact one of our ranger stations:

  • Forest Supervisor’s Office: 928-527-3600, then press “0.”
  • Flagstaff Ranger Station: 928-527-8279.
  • Mogollon Rim Ranger Station: 928-477-2255.
  • Red Rock Ranger Station & Visitor’s Center: 928-203-2900, then press “0.”

Presumptive positive case of COVID-19 reported in Coconino County

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) confirmed the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Coconino County. The test was conducted by TGen North Clinical Laboratory.

The individual is from the greater Flagstaff area and is over 60-years old, which is considered a vulnerable population. CCHHS is conducting an investigation regarding the case to identify other individuals potentially exposed to the illness. Close contacts of the individual will be contacted by CCHHS staff and provided appropriate information. The CCHHS Communicable Disease is monitoring the person who is under home isolation. Due to medical privacy requirements and to protect the person’s identity, further information about this case will not be released.

“The County’s number one priority is the safety of our residents,” said Chair of the Board Lena Fowler. “We have complete faith in our public health officials, our community leaders and partners to manage our response to the pandemic. While information continues to change and more cases are identified, we encourage people to stay calm. If you’re sick, please stay home and contact a health care provider to obtain medical guidance.”

CCHHS is working closely with healthcare providers and partner organizations to continue to monitor the virus. People who are experiencing respiratory symptoms, including cough, fever and shortness of breath, and have either been in contact with someone who was tested positive, traveled to China or other areas experiencing community spread of the virus, or respiratory testing has not identified a known illness should be evaluated for testing. COVID-19 testing is conducted at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory and in partnership with TGen North Clinical Laboratory.

“The CCHHS Communicable Disease team is determining potential exposures from this case,” said County COVID-19 Incident Commander Dr. Marie Peoples. “As the illness spreads in the U.S., the County has been educating people about prevention and working with health care providers and community partners to monitor and test potential cases. We encourage everyone to take actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illness.”

According to public health officials, the immediate risk of COVID-19 infection to individuals in Coconino County is still believed to be relatively low. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, cough and shortness of breath consistent with other respiratory illness. Reported illnesses range from infected people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill.

Some people may be at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:

Older adults and people who have serious underlying medical conditions like:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Lung disease

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. As a reminder, CCHHS recommends actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Get a seasonal flu shot
• Wash hands frequently.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth with your upper sleeve or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

The County has set-up a CVOID-19 Information Line. People are encouraged to call 928-679-7300 if they have any questions. The Information Line is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can also email: covid19information@coconino.az.gov.

Please go to www.coconino.az.gov/covid19 for more information.

TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division in Flagstaff, also known as TGen North, studies disease caused by bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites. More information is available at https://www.tgen.org. TGen, an affiliate of City of Hope, is a non-profit biomedical research institute headquartered in Phoenix.

Board of Supervisors proclaim emergency measures for social distancing

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation closing restaurants and other businesses in Coconino County to members of the public, effective at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2020 through Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Board Chair Lena Fowler issued the proclamation aimed to help curb the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing.

All restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, retail food facilities and other similar businesses and establishments are prohibited from serving food and beverages for consumption on premises. Members of the public are prohibited from entering and remaining to dine or consume beverages. Businesses that typically offer food and beverages for on-premises consumption are encouraged to offer food and beverage using delivery, window, drive-through or drive-up service. If a business chooses to offer this type of “to-go” service, members of the public may remain on its premises for the purpose of picking up their food or beverage orders.

The proclamation also closes the following:

  • Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, special licensees, clubs, and other similar businesses and establishments offering alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
  • Theaters, cinemas and indoor and outdoor performance venues.
  • Libraries and museums.
  • Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, yoga and barre studios and other similar facilities.
  • Bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks and other similar recreational or entertainment facilities.

The restrictions do not apply to any of the following:

  • Grocery stores, markets, convenience stores and other similar businesses and establishments that offer food and beverage not for on-premises consumption;
    Pharmacies and drug stores;
  • Food banks and food pantries;
  • Cafeterias, commissaries, and restaurants located within health care facilities, nursing homes, shelters, group homes, places of worship, or similar facilities; and
  • Cafeterias, commissaries, and restaurants located within or on the premises of institutions of higher learning.

The County set-up a COVID-19 Information Line (928.679.7300) from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends for people who have questions. People can also email questions to: COVID19Information@coconino.az.gov.

Further information is available on the Coconino County COVID-19 website at www.coconino.az.gov/covid19.

Board of Supervisors declare County State of Emergency

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino County Board of Supervisors declared a State of Emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The declaration was approved at special session on Wednesday, March 18.

With the declaration, Coconino County will be able to make appropriate orders, provide emergency resources, request additional resources and receive mutual aid from the state and federal governments. There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Coconino County.

The County was the first agency in the state of Arizona to set-up COVID-19 specimen collections sites. There are two sites in Flagstaff. As per CDC guidelines, individuals must meet criteria, as determined by their provider, to qualify for testing. An order from a healthcare provider or from the Coconino County Health and Human Service COVID-19 Response Team is required prior to arriving at the specimen collection site. People are asked to call their providers prior to visiting a medical office.

“Coconino County takes the COVID-19 outbreak seriously and we are doing everything we can to keep our residents informed and safe,” said Chair of the County Board of Supervisors Lena Fowler. “Coconino County continues to deliver services as we adapt to this rapidly evolving situation. We have opened two specimen collection sites for people that have doctor’s orders for a test. We continue to provide the latest information and resources to our communities and local businesses. Our employees are absolutely important so we are implementing extra support so they can continue to provide essential County services for the public.”

While there are currently no County office closures, there is planning for potential facility closures, modified staffing plans, work-from-home options and enhanced communications to employees to ensure County services are continued. County Board meetings will continue as planned unless conditions change and people are encouraged to stream meetings and attend in person only if necessary.

Coconino County Health and Human Services established the Coconino County COVID-19 Incident Command Team that included a Command and General Staff structure for the monitoring and preparedness measures surrounding COVID-19 on January 29, 2020. The County also established an Emergency Operations Center on March 12 to prepare for a potential outbreak of COVID-19. The County also set-up a COVID-19 Information Line (928.679.7300) from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Friday and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekends for people who have questions. People can also email questions to: COVID19Information@coconino.az.gov. Further information is available on the Coconino County COVID-19 website at www.coconino.az.gov/covid19.

County COVID-19 drive-up swab testing to begin

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County established a drive-up COVID-19 specimen collection facility at Fort Tuthill. The site will be available for swab testing from noon – 4 p.m. on Monday, March 16. Beginning Tuesday, March 17, hours for drive-up testing will be from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

An order from a medical provider is required for testing. Testing sites are not open to the public and people without proper documentation will be turned away. Once complete, the specimen will be taken to a test site for COVID-19 testing.

Northern Arizona Health Care will initially support the collection process and materials needed to obtain specimens. Coconino County Public Works will assist with traffic control. Coconino County Parks & Recreation will support facility operations. Coconino County Health and Human Services and the Incident Management Team will provide support for the entire collection process and the Coconino County Sheriff will provide security.

The County has established a COVID-19 Information Line from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily for people who have questions. The Information Line number is 928.679.7300. People can also email questions to: COVID19Information@coconino.az.gov.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. As a reminder, CCHHS recommends taking these actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

  • Get a seasonal flu shot
  • Wash hands frequently.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your mouth with your upper sleeve or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Additional preparedness information from the CDC can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html

Please go to www.coconino.az.gov/covid19 for more information.

Winter Storm Watch

Posted on by

From Coconino County Emergency Management

In partnership with the National Weather Service WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING ABOVE 6000 FEET Winter Storm Watch issued March 16 at 3:06PM MST until March 19 at 6:00AM MST by NWS Flagstaff AZ * WHAT…Heavy snow possible above 6000 feet. Total snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts of 16 inches possible. * WHERE…Areas above 6000 feet near Alpine, Doney Park, Flagstaff, Forest Lakes, Heber-Overgaard, Jacob Lake, Pinetop- Lakeside, Show Low and Williams. * WHEN…From Wednesday morning through early Thursday morning. * IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning or evening commute. Snow forecast from 6 AM Wednesday to 6 AM Thursday: Alpine 6 to 10 inches Doney Park 2 to 4 inches Flagstaff 8 to 12 inches Forest Lakes 9 to 15 inches Heber-Overgaard 3 to 5 inches Jacob Lake 4 to 8 inches Pinetop-Lkside 5 to 9 inches Show Low 3 to 5 inches Williams 8 to 12 inches.

County COVID-19 surveillance and response continues

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – Coconino County continues COVID-19 surveillance and has submitted two samples for testing at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. Both have been negative for COVID-19.

Coconino County Health and Human Services, in partnership with federal, state and local partners, is continuing to prepare for the possibility of the illness in Coconino County.Governor Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency in Arizona due to COVID-19. The World Health Organization also designated the outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.

Although there are no confirmed cases in Coconino County, health officials are communicating with community partners, including healthcare providers about recommended guidance and processes, testing procedures and criteria for monitoring and isolation.

A person will be considered for testing if they are experiencing respiratory symptoms and have one of three variables; contact with someone who was tested positive, traveled to China or other areas experiencing community spread of the virus or respiratory testing has not identified a known illness. COVID-19 testing is conducted at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory.

People with travel history to impacted areas that may have increased their likelihood for contracting the virus and are not displaying symptoms are under self-monitoring with guidance from the health department. Currently, there are less than ten people in the County who are in the self-monitoring status. There are currently no confirmed cases in Coconino County.

While much of the details of the virus are still unknown, the CDC is reporting a relatively low fatality rate compared to previous coronavirus outbreaks. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, cough and shortness of breath consistent with pneumonia or other respiratory illness. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms and have traveled to an area where COVID-19 is circulating or have had close contact with a person with confirmed COVID-19, should contact their health care provider prior to visiting a health care facility.

The County has established the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line. The number is 928-679-7300. Information is also available at www.coconino.az.gov.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. As a reminder, CCHHS recommends actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

  • Get a seasonal flu shot
  • Wash hands frequently.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your mouth with your upper sleeve or with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Additional preparedness information from the CDC can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html

Arrest made in Cavanaugh Homicide Case

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF – On February 28 and March 5, 2020, Shawn Eckard and Jason Eric Johnson were served warrants separately, reference the investigation of the homicide of Craig Cavanaugh.

Both men have been indicted in Navajo County for first degree murder of Craig Cavanaugh. Shawn Eckard is currently in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections on unrelated charges, and Jason Eric Johnson is currently in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

Both have been served warrants and are pending appearance in Navajo County. This investigation began for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office on July 17, 2019 when the Farmington New Mexico Police Department requested assistance with a missing person case that started on July 4. Craig Cavanaugh was reported missing after not returning to Farmington from a trip to Arizona.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives conducted follow up and a body was located in the woods outside of Heber, Arizona on August 5. This body was later identified by the Pima County Medical Examiner as Craig Cavanaugh. Since this discovery, Coconino County detectives investigating this case as a homicide developed leads and additional evidence that was presented to the Navajo County Attorney’s Office for charging and later presented to a grand jury.

Fees to increase in April for Mogollon Rim campgrounds

Posted on by

CLINTS WELL – Fees for certain developed campgrounds on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District will rise, beginning April 17, due to increased use and in order to continue site maintenance and improvements.

Fees have not increased in more than a decade. A public comment period regarding the proposal of these changes concluded in summer 2019. More than 300 comments were received and analyzed, and the majority of respondents were in favor of a fee increase in order to maintain the sites.

Some campground fees will increase over two phases, as the following image indicates:

Of the recreation fees collected, 95 percent remain on the forest to operate, maintain and improve the facilities and programs at the campgrounds.

For more details regarding what was originally proposed, please visit our fee proposal frequently asked questions web page.

Kaibab National Forest and Red Rock Ranger District announce March archaeology month events

Posted on by

WILLIAMS — This March, the Kaibab National Forest will continue its more than decade-long tradition of offering stimulating presentations and outdoor excursions in the Williams area as part of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month. In Sedona, ancient cultures and their technologies are celebrated during planned events throughout the month at the Red Rock Ranger District.

In Williams, Wednesday evenings throughout March, experts will present a series of lectures starting at 6 p.m. at the Sultana Theatre in Williams covering topics such as the history of sheep ranching in northern Arizona, Fred Harvey’s original farm-to-table legacy, and the role of the Forest Service in shaping Arizona and its lands.

On all four Saturdays in March, Kaibab National Forest archaeologists will lead fun and educational hikes to the Keyhole Sink petroglyph site near the Parks community starting at 2 p.m. The Keyhole Sink Trail offers a short, relatively flat hike to a scenic box canyon where prehistoric residents left their mark carved into the canyon’s gray volcanic walls.

Close-up image of some of the petroglyphs at Keyhole Sink. Photo by Dyan Bone. Kaibab National Forest.

A special addition to the 2020 archaeology month offerings is the Stone to Steel Dam Trail hike, which will be held both March 14 and March 28. Guests should arrive at 9:30 a.m. at the Ash Fork Museum in Ash Fork. The trail is an easy, winding path between two historic dams. The first large steel dam in the nation was built in Ash Fork in the late 1890s by a railroad company. Less than a mile upstream is another dam dating from 1911, which was also constructed by the railroad but with stone blocks.

“We are so fortunate to live in an area that is so rich with history and culture,” said Neil Weintraub, archaeologist for the south zone of the Kaibab National Forest. “There is no better time than archaeology month to learn about and explore the incredible diversity of special places that make the Kaibab National Forest and northern Arizona so unique.”

Archaeology month is intended to generate understanding of and support for the state’s archaeological heritage. Celebrations and events focus on promoting the preservation of archaeological resources and illustrating ways the public can help in protecting and appreciating them.

For detailed information about the Kaibab National Forest archaeology month offerings in the Williams area, download the PDF schedule.

In Sedona, attend one or all of the planned presentations to learn about how Native Americans have thrived in this area for hundreds of years.

March 6: Peter Pilles, Coconino National Forest archaeologist, will give a presentation on the Rock Art of the Verde Valley by describing the many cultural groups that have lived in the Verde Valley and the styles of rock art each created. This event begins at 11 a.m. at the Red Rock Visitor Center and will last about an hour.

March 13: Visitors can learn how natives used agave for food and fiber. A presentation by Wendy Hodgson and Andrew Salywon, entitled Pre-Columbian Agaves in the Southwest – Discovering Lost Crops among the Hohokam and the Verde Valley Cultures, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Red Rock Visitor Center and is slated to last an hour.

March 21: People who are interested to learn about the natives of the V Bar V Ranch area may see more than 1,000 petroglyphs at this site and understand how they used the solar calendar to plant their crops. Jake Newhouse will give a presentation on the Spring Equinox, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the V Bar V Heritage Site. The presentation will last until 2 p.m.

March 28: Join a demonstration of Ancient Technology, witnessing a wide variety of ancient tools commonly used by Native Americans of the region. Bob Erb will give a presentation at the V Bar V Heritage Site beginning at 10 a.m. until about 2 p.m.

The Red Rock Ranger District visitor center located at 8375 state Route 179, in Sedona, AZ 86351.

Petroglyphs at the V Bar V Heritage Site in Sedona

The V Bar V Heritage Site located 2.5 miles southeast of Interstate 17, Exit 298 on Forest Road 618. Drive east past the Beaver Creek Day Use Picnic Site, then turn right into the V Bar V Heritage Site driveway. Each vehicle requires a Red Rock Pass or equivalent to park, as explained on the V Bar V Heritage Site web page. Passes may be purchased at a vending machine in the parking lot.

For more information about the Coconino National Forest and its heritage sites, please visit www.coconinonationalforest.us. For more information about these events, please contact the Red Rock Visitor Center at (928) 203-2900.