Category Archives: Phoenix

Pikachu agrees, Pokémon Go is a no-go when driving

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pokemon4525bf78c8006c57b531ff0000a35efcPHOENIX — Have you captured Pikachu? Nabbed Rattata or the elusive Charizard? Leveled-up and trained your monsters at a Gym?

Of course, we’re talking about Pokémon Go, the week-old smartphone app soaring in popularity. The video game phenomenon is sending Pokémon Trainers to landmarks and into parks, neighborhoods and cities, hunting for rare monsters.

The lure of the chase can be strong and the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Public Safety want to remind Pokémon Trainers that driving and searching for exotic monsters or checking in at Poké Stops don’t mix.

“Distracted driving takes many forms, even looking for Pokémon,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Although we hope you catch ’em all, if you’re not focused on driving with your eyes on the road, you’re at a higher risk of injuring or killing yourself and others in a crash. No Pokémon is worth that.”

To urge Pokémon Go fans to hunt safely, the following message will be displayed statewide on overhead highway signs this week:

POKEMON GO
IS A NO-GO
WHEN DRIVING
“Distracted driving is not a game,” said DPS Capt. Damon Cecil. “Playing Pokémon Go is not worth your life or someone else’s.”

So, please, #DontCatchAndDrive. And when traveling on foot don’t play the game near the road, either. Do you really want the eggs you’re incubating to get smashed in a crash?

On all Arizona roadways in 2015, distracted driving contributed to at least 33 fatal crashes and nearly 8,000 distracted drivers were involved in crashes on Arizona roadways, according to data collected by ADOT.

ADEQ Launches Reimbursement Programs for Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

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PHOENIX— Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today the launch of two programs designed to reimburse eligible underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators who incurred environmental cleanup costs for leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs).

In 2015, the Arizona legislature enacted HB 2636, which modified the ways the penny-per-gallon UST tax can be used. The penny-per-gallon tax provides funding to clean up environmental hazards created by LUSTs.

UST owners and operators who were ‘time-barred’ from submitting costs for reimbursement after the sunset of the former state assurance fund (SAF) on June 30, 2010, now have the opportunity to seek repayment by submitting a ‘UST time-barred claim’ application. Legislation allows ADEQ to provide reimbursement for eligible owners and operators of up to 90 percent of the approved cleanup costs incurred after June 30, 2010.

To be considered, all ‘time-barred’ applications must be submitted to ADEQ by Dec. 31, 2016. ADEQ urges eligible parties to act now and submit their applications before the deadline.

UST owners, operators or landowners also may be eligible for ADEQ’s UST Preapproval Program, which provides financial assistance for corrective action costs that are not being covered by a financial assurance mechanism. ADEQ will work closely with applicants to develop a cleanup plan and path to closure for their USTs.

“These two reimbursement programs provide opportunities for qualifying UST owners and operators (and, in some cases, landowners) to get part or all of their cleanup costs covered,” ADEQ Waste Programs Division Director Laura Malone said. “It is a win-win for our customers and the environment. We are encouraging those who believe they qualify for either program to review information on our website to see if they are eligible.”

To find out more about the UST Time-Barred Program, visit azdeq.gov/ust/time-barred

To find out more about the UST Preapproval Program, visit azdeq.gov/ust/preapproval

Thursday is deadline to apply for Local Sportsmen’s Group grants

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds local sportsmen’s organizations that the deadline to apply for $75,000 in annual grant funding is 5 p.m. (MST) Thursday, July 14. Postmarks do not count.

The purpose of the grant program is to support organizations in providing public, hands-on, mentored projects that provide continued skill development for those who just started hunting and fishing.

The priority funding focus of this year’s grant program is on moving beginners from the recruitment stage to the retention stage of the Adoption Sequence. Projects and events that involve the pursuit or harvest of wildlife or fish with a license are being requested. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process and must be open to the public.

To apply, download an application packet from www.azgfd.gov/LSG. Completed applications should be submitted by e-mail to: dburt@azgfd.gov. Call Doug Burt, hunting and shooting sports program manager, at (623) 236-7487 to confirm receipt.

Burt said there are many organizations that do great work, but lack the funding to carry out the important work of passing down the hunting and angling heritage to the next generation of wildlife conservationists and stewards. The Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program is the Department’s and the Commission’s commitment to the important role they play in conservation.

“Based on the developing science and data in recruitment and retention, there is a need for programs that provide beginners with the next progressive step necessary to become self-reliant as a hunter or angler,” Burt said. “Local sportsmen’s organizations offer a perfect solution because they are part of the community and can provide the continued skills and social support that beginners need.”

There is no cost to Arizona taxpayers for this grant program. Game and Fish does not receive any of the state’s general tax funds and operates under a user-pay, public-benefit model. The grant program is an investment in the continuance of wildlife conservation efforts and outdoors recreation participation in Arizona.

To learn more about how hunters, anglers, shooters and boaters fund wildlife conservation, visit www.azgfd.gov/h_f/federal-aid-cycle.shtml.

AZGFD investigation: Horseshoe Lake fish died from low oxygen levels

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PHOENIX — The significant fish die-off last week on the Verde River below Horseshoe Dam was the result of a lack of oxygen, and not because of anything found in the river, according to a water-quality investigation compiled by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

On Thursday and Friday, the Department collected water-quality samples, analyzing fish for bacteria, viruses and parasites. The fish die-off was in an area approximately 100 yards downstream from Horseshoe Dam, which is operated and managed by Salt River Project for the Bureau of Reclamation.

It is estimated that approximately 20,000 fish were killed. About 60 to 70 percent were goldfish and carp. The remaining fish species were comprised of largemouth bass, flathead catfish, channel catfish, and bluegill. The Department believes that most of the fish killed were from Horseshoe Lake and that only a small fraction may have been from the Verde River below Horseshoe Dam.

On June 1, SRP began releasing approximately 1,000 cubic feet of water per second from Horseshoe Lake. SRP empties Horseshoe Lake each year to comply with the Horseshoe-Bartlett Habitat Conservation Plan (H-BHCP), which was established with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect endangered species from potential impacts of SRP’s operation of Bartlett and Horseshoe dams.

Mitigation activities in the H-BHCP, including the annual rapid draw-down of Horseshoe Lake, were developed to benefit native birds, native fish and reptiles in the upper Verde River that are listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. Specifically, the draw-down of the reservoir increases riparian nesting habitat availability for the southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo, while decreasing the numbers of non-native fish species that may compete with, or prey upon, native fish in the upper Verde River.

By June 28, the reservoir was nearly empty. As the reservoir level decreased, the fish in Horseshoe were concentrated in an increasingly smaller area. Sediment that was disturbed as the water was being drawn down consumed dissolved oxygen, resulting the low oxygen levels and causing the die-off.

As the last of the water was released from Horseshoe, the dead and dying fish were passed through the dam into the Verde River. Some of these fish may eventually drift down to Bartlett Lake.

In the meantime, it is important for anglers to remember they should not be taking these dead or dying fish.

Come net bats with the Arizona Game and Fish Department

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a chance to accompany biologists on an evening of bat netting along the Verde River, north of Scottsdale, on Friday, July 8, 7-10 p.m.

Arizona is home to 28 species of bats, many of which live and forage right in our own back yards. This event is your chance to see these fascinating and often misunderstood creatures in person.

“We’ve had good luck netting bats along the Verde,” said Randy Babb, watchable wildlife program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “We typically capture four to five species and sometimes get something unusual, which can be really exciting. Captured bats will be identified, examined, and released unharmed.”

In addition to bats, Babb said other species that might be encountered include rattlesnakes and other reptiles, along with owls and various rodents.

“It’s a really nice way to spend a warm summer evening,” said Babb.

There is a registration fee of $25 for each person. Participation is limited to 30 people. Children must be over 10 years of age to participate.

To register or for more information, contact Joe Yarchin at (623) 236-7589 or email jyarchin@azgfd.gov.

Deadline near to enter Arizona Big Game Super Raffle July 8

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AZBGSR_-_LogoPHOENIX — As the deadline draws near to enter the 11th annual “Arizona Big Game Super Raffle,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department is receiving inquiries about what the raffle is and how it works.

The raffle is conducted by a nonprofit entity to raise money for wildlife conservation efforts. A volunteer board of directors, comprised of representatives from sponsoring organizations, oversees the operation of the raffle.

Here’s how it works: The Arizona Game and Fish Commission awards the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle a total of 10 Special Big Game Tags, one for each of the state’s big game species — bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, bison, turkey, bear, javelina and mountain lion.

Raffle tickets then are made available for $5 to $25 each, depending on species. Raffle tickets can be ordered online (www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com), or by requesting an order form by mail (AZBGSR, P.O. Box 41355, Mesa, AZ 85274). There is no limit on how many raffle tickets can be ordered.

Every dollar raised for each species through the raffle is returned to the department and managed by the Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee (AHPC) for that particular species. With input from local habitat partners across the state and sponsoring organizations involved in the fundraising, project priorities are determined that will provide the most benefit to each species.

According to the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle website, mail orders must be received by Friday, July 8. The deadline to order raffle tickets online is 10 p.m. (MST) Sunday, July 10. Winners will be permitted to hunt for 365 days between Aug. 15, 2016 and Aug. 14, 2017, in most game management units statewide.

The names of the winners will be drawn at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 21, during the Sportsmen’s Open Forum at department headquarters (Quail Room), 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix. The drawing will be webcast at www.azgfd.gov/webcast. Winners do not need to be present. Winners will be contacted by phone.

For more information, visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com.

Interstates are key commerce corridors fueling economic growth

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i-15-virginriverbridge-no1-800PHOENIX — Arizona’s interstate highways are key commerce corridors serving not only as the backbone of our transportation system but providing businesses and their customers with food, fuel and other essentials.

With the U.S. marking the 60th anniversary of the national interstate highway system that President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched in 1956, John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, said this essential infrastructure requires adequate and sustained investment.

“By carrying many thousands of trucks each and every week, our interstates in Arizona are a critical lifeline for the health of our state’s businesses and our economic well-being,” Halikowski said. “If our interstate freeways are not reliable, high-quality corridors, Arizona will not be able to maintain our existing businesses and attract new business to the state.”

With ADOT facing limited transportation funding as it safeguards Arizona’s $20 billion investment in highways and looks toward future improvements, the state’s 1,169 miles of interstate highways anchor a reliable travel network vital to economic growth.

“Arizona is at the heart of the 10th-largest regional economy in the world stretching from Southern California to Texas,” Halikowski said. “We’re reminding Arizonans, from business owners to policymakers to the traveling public, that interstates provide the links to this trillion-dollar market. The importance of these links cannot be overstated.”

That applies to Interstate 10, the state’s longest at 392 miles, and the 30 miles of I-15, Arizona’s shortest stretch of interstate.

It’s one of the reasons Halikowski earlier this month led efforts to establish an Interstate 10 Corridor Coalition with transportation leaders from California, New Mexico and Texas. An agreement, signed June 2, supports innovations that make travel on I-10 safer and more efficient.

ADOT also is looking to the future by laying the groundwork for another interstate. Although it’s likely many years from existence, Interstate 11 is on the drawing board as a multimodal corridor improving travel not only between Phoenix and Las Vegas but also as part of a bigger vision for connecting southern Arizona, at Nogales, with the Intermountain West region, including Nevada.

Last December, Congress formally designated I-11 through Arizona as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. While that designation didn’t come with funding, it does make the corridor eligible for future federal funding.

“When it comes to what I’ll call the ‘state of our interstates,’ we need to change our driving culture to avoid distractions, be patient and drive sober. ADOT will maximize and use available funding wisely to ensure that we get everyone home safely through road improvements, technology and driver awareness,” Halikowski said. “Focusing on safety and the economy in our transportation infrastructure system will foster a better quality of life for all Arizonans.”

No state highway construction closures over Fourth of July weekend

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PHOENIX — During the Fourth of July weekend, state and local agencies are focusing on keeping motorists safe, and placing equipment and resources along heavily traveled highways to help move traffic should incidents occur. As part of America’s 240th birthday celebration, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its contractors won’t schedule construction closures along state highways from Friday through Monday evening.

While no closures are scheduled during the holiday weekend, travelers should be aware that existing work-zone restrictions with lane reductions will remain in place, including on I-10 near Benson.

ADOT is emphasizing safety in three high-traffic zones that will receive extra enforcement and resources to minimize travel delays. Along Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, for faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles to decrease travel delays.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety will have an enhanced presence on highways, targeting impairment and dangerous driving behaviors. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with local, county and state law enforcement agencies on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign. Last year, 11 people died in 11 fatal traffic collisions during the holiday weekend on Arizona roadways. Eight of the crashes were alcohol-related.

To encourage smart driving decisions, ADOT’s overhead signs will display current traffic conditions and safety messages.

Fire restrictions are in place for much of Arizona and those traveling to campgrounds are advised to check with park rangers about campfire restrictions. Because unexpected delays can occur due to crashes and stalled vehicles, those traveling during the weekend should:

  • Pack extra drinking water and snacks
  • Avoid the busiest travel times, if possible
  • Get plenty of rest before driving
  • Check vehicles, including tire pressure, belts and fluid levels

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Travel Information Center at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.

10 tips for safe, responsible OHV riding during Independence weekend

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DSC_0260-reduced_1PHOENIX — With the Independence weekend upon us, many Arizona residents and visitors are planning to hop on their off highway vehicle (OHV). Before hitting the trail, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds operators and passengers to do so safely and responsibly by following these 10 tips:

  1. Always wear a helmet. Whether riding in a side-by-side, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or dirt bike, helmets are strongly recommended for all riders. However, those who are younger than18 years old are legally required to wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.
  2. Eye protection is legally required for all riders if the OHV is not equipped with a windshield.
  3. Wear proper clothing, including riding gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, pants and over-the-ankle boots.
  4. Supervise children under 16 years old. Be sure your child is riding an age-appropriate vehicle. Adult model machines may be too large and powerful for a child to safely operate. Parents are responsible for their children’s safety.
  5. Only ride with the number of passengers for which the machine is designed. One of the biggest causes of OHV-related injuries is riding with more than the recommended number of passengers. Carrying a passenger can make riding difficult and change how the vehicle responds.
  6. Stay on designated trails. One of the biggest threats to sustainable OHV recreation in Arizona is the closure of riding areas due to irresponsible use. Protect the state’s fragile natural resources, and your ability to visit such spots, by staying on designated trails and avoiding sensitive habitat areas.
  7. Be prepared and equipped. Take area maps and guides, and have a compass, first aid kit, whistle, tire repair kit, tow rope or chain and other basic tools on hand. Also make sure to bring sunscreen, water and food.
  8. Avoid drinking alcohol and/or drugs. Operating any vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is always illegal, regardless of what type of vehicle you’re operating. Alcohol and drugs drastically impair a person’s judgement, responsiveness and ability to operate the machine safely.
  9. Register your OHV and purchase an OHV decal. All vehicles designed primarily for travel on unimproved terrain and weighing less than 1,800 pounds are required to have an OHV Decal to operate on public and state lands. License plates and decals are available at any Arizona Motor Vehicle Division location or at www.servicearizona.com.
  10. Maintain your machine properly, especially the spark arrester and muffler. Arresters help to protect against sparking a wildfire and mufflers help to reduce the noise emitted by OHVs.

$750 reward offered for information in illegal killing of a mule deer buck

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operation_game_thief_footer The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program is offering up to a $750 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with the illegal poaching of a mule deer buck. The deer’s remains were discovered near Happy Valley Rd. and the AZ-303 loop in Peoria.

Game and Fish investigators believe the buck was killed during the Father’s Day weekend. It appears to have been poached close to the Valley, transported and dumped at the location.

“Poachers are not hunters. They are thieves stealing wildlife from the citizens of Arizona,” said Joshua Hurst, AZGFD’s Operation Game Thief Program Manager. “If you saw something—even if you think you saw—something suspicious or learned about the crime through social media, please call our Operation Game Thief Hotline. Do the right thing and call today.”

The Department relies on the citizens of Arizona to assist in the reduction of wildlife violations. If you have any information or knowledge of this incident, please contact Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-352-0700, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, or on the web at www.azgfd.gov/ogt.shtml.

Every year, the Department pays cash rewards to individuals who report wildlife crimes in Arizona. Under law, callers can remain anonymous and their confidentiality is protected. Money for rewards comes from criminal poaching fines, civil restitution by violators who commit wildlife crimes, and donations.