Category Archives: News

Kaibab National Forest Announces Prescribed Burning Plans for Fall 2021, Spring 2022

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers on the Kaibab National Forest are planning for the 2021 fall and 2022 spring prescribed fire burning season that is expected to begin in October of this year.

A final decision on which units will be ignited will be made based on environmental conditions, resource availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality and forecast weather as outlined in the prescribed fire plan.

The following project areas are planned for treatments on the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts:

Three Sisters Rx Project: Just north of the City Williams, approx. 4000 acres
Marteen Rx Project: 5 miles northwest of Spring Valley, approx. 4700 acres
Round Rx Project: 10 miles south of Williams east of Vista Point, approx. 5000 acres
Reed Rx Project: South and northeast of Tusayan, approx. 6600 acres.
Russell Rx Project: Southeast of Tusayan, approx. 1000 acres.
Blue Stem Rx Project: Southeast corner of Tusayan District, approx. 7700 acres.

On the North Kaibab Ranger District and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, the Forest Service and National Park Service operate as a single, interagency fire program referred to as the “North Zone” that is responsible for all fires on National Forest and National Park lands. The following projects areas are planned for treatments on the North Kaibab Ranger District (NKRD) and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA):

Big Ridge East Rx Project (NKRD): 2 miles east of Jacob Lake, 472 acres.
Buffalo Hill Rx Project (NKRD): 1 mile SE of Jacob Lake, 4519 acres.
Road Hollow North Rx Project (NKRD): 9 miles S of Big Springs, 1739 acres.
Road Hollow South Rx Project (NKRD): 9 miles S of Big Springs, 2281 acres.
Big Saddle Rx Project (NKRD): 1/2 mile north of Crazy Jug, 957 acres.
Dry Park Tower Rx Project (NKRD): 3 miles west of DeMotte, 1400 acres.
Dry Park Blowdown Rx Project (NKRD): 3 miles west of DeMotte, 1400 acres.
Dry Park Lakes Rx Project (NKRD): 3 miles west of DeMotte, 4067 acres.
North Ridge Heavies Rx Project (GRCA): along Kaibab NF boundary, 50+ acres.
Slopes Rx Project (GRCA): west of North Entrance Station, 500+ acres.
Harvey Meadow Rx Project (GRCA): north of Grand Canyon Lodge, 43 acres

Fire plays a beneficial role in maintaining the ecological stability of many landscapes including the Kaibab National Forest. Managers use prescribed fire as a practical means to reduce risks associated with uncharacteristic wildfires that can pose significant threats to public health and safety.

The Forest Service’s land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health, which includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed fire on the landscape. A healthy forest is a resilient forest that undergoes fire occurrences on a regular basis. The Kaibab National Forest works with partners, collaborators, and communities to clearly identify objectives and address concerns during the planning process for prescribed fires.

Officials recognize that impacts to air quality may be unpleasant at times, however they can significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration of smoke more effectively using prescribed methods than in an uncontrolled wildfire situation. Additionally, fire managers will actively monitor atmospheric conditions daily and use strategies to minimize smoke impacts to rural developed areas.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these vicinities will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened caution when passing through active project areas.

Individual news releases will be forthcoming throughout the season, detailing specific information about each burn.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information about the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burn authorizations, please visit: legacy.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html

Snow starting on Saturday

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WILLIAMS — Tomorrow there is a 30% chance of rain after 11 a.m. decreasing to 20% into the evening. Saturday will be sunny with rain starting after 11 p.m. mixing with snow after 4 a.m.

Widespread frost is expected in the mornings starting Sunday. Monday night there is a chance of snow and rain showers with a 50% chance of snow on Tuesday. Tuesday night the weather should clear of moisture. Temperatures will still remain relatively warm around 60-degrees.

Will it rain on our parade?

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WILLIAMS — It was a beautiful sunset, tonight, and the Juniors continued to work on their float for the Homecoming Parade tomorrow. Will it, however, rain on our parade?

Tomorrow there is 40% chance of thunderstorms after 11 a.m. The parade usually occurs about noon. The temperature is expected to reach about 60-degrees with winds about 8 to 10-mph with gusts about 16-mph. There 20% chance of thunder showers before 8 p.m. in the evening with the temperature dropping to around 37-degrees.

The Juniors work on their float for the Homecoming Parade.

The weekend is expected to be dry and nice with the possibility of rain returning Monday.

Heavy rains may produce flash floods

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WILLIAMS — Heavy rains and thunderstorms over the next couple of days could cause flash floods. A flash flood watch is set for portions of northern and central Arizona from 11 a.m. today through late Wednesday. Particularly vulnerable are areas of recent fires damage such as the are of the Museum Fire that has experienced problems already. Other areas include Coconino Plateau, Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons and Ash Fork.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase today and continue at times through Wednesday. Some of these storms will be capable of producing 1- to 2-inches of rain in less than an hour, leading to flash flooding. Burn scars and low water crossings are especially vulnerable to flooding.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through Labor Day.

ATV use on highway shoulders illegal, unsafe

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PHOENIX – While all-terrain vehicles are a popular way to explore off-road areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds ATV riders it is illegal and unsafe to drive these vehicles along state roadways.

The shoulders of state highways are only to be used only for emergencies, not for joyrides.

ATV users create many hazards when they drive on shoulders. At a minimum, they are a distraction to passenger and commercial traffic on the highway. At driveways and on sharp curves, they can surprise other drivers and lead to near-misses or crashes. And on unpaved shoulders, ATV riders can kick up dust that blinds drivers who are traveling at highway speeds.

ATV use also damages the areas along highways. The vehicles destroy vegetation and erode unpaved areas, which can cause steep drop-offs at the edge of pavement and at driveways. When enough damage occurs, ADOT maintenance crews are needlessly diverted from other important functions as they work to repair damage from off-road vehicles.

The problem applies no matter where ATV riders are improperly using highway shoulders, but the issue is more pronounced in certain areas. This includes State Route 188 in the Tonto Basin, where curves and elevation changes only make the problem more pronounced. Also northwest of Wickenburg, heavy ATV use is an issue along SR 89 between US 93 and SR 71.

ADOT reminds off-road vehicle operators they can be cited for illegal use of highway shoulders, including for damage to state or private land.

State Employees Charitable Campaign raises money for charities

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PHOENIX — The State Employees Charitable Campaign (SECC) annually provides Arizona state employees with an opportunity to voluntarily contribute monetary donations that support hundreds of nonprofit charities.

The public can show its support for three of those 501(c)(3) nonprofits by purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win from a wide selection of brand-name outdoors equipment, which includes the grand-prize winner’s choice of a 2021 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS or a 2021 Sea-Doo Fish Pro and trailer.

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Wildlife for Tomorrow and the Arizona Elk Society, both of which work closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Together, the organizations provide needed support for habitat projects, water for wildlife, education and mentored activities where traditional resources aren’t adequate. Special Olympics Arizona also will benefit to help assist more than 22,000 Arizona athletes who participate in the program.

RideNow Powersports has donated a 2021 Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS ($18,837 MSRP) and a 2021 Sea-Doo Fish Pro with trailer ($16,199 MSRP) to be raffled as the grand prize. The Arizona Elk Society is hosting the fundraiser on behalf of the three charities and has donated six additional prizes to increase the number of winners — 55-quart Canyon coolers (second and third prizes), Vortex Diamondback 10×42 binoculars (fourth and fifth prizes), and Canyon Nomad soft-sided coolers (sixth and seventh prizes).

The raffle ends at 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) November 28, with a live drawing scheduled for December 11 at RideNow Powersports in Phoenix at 17202 N. Cave Creek Road.

Public’s help needed to detect, prevent spread of fungus deadly to bats

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PHOENIX — Results from monitoring work this spring suggest that Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats, may be present in samples collected from multiple species in five counties across California and northwestern Arizona.

The analytical results for these samples are considered “inconclusive” based on established national standards for the disease, which means they do not provide definitive evidence of the fungus being present in those bat populations. However, officials note they do underscore the importance of increased surveillance for WNS and the public’s help in reporting sick or dead bats on the landscape.

Federal and state agencies are asking the public to report any sick or dead bats found on the landscape. Sick or dying bats observed during winter may be a sign of WNS and can lead scientists to important roosting locations.

The general public should not handle bats but can report bat sightings to park rangers or state biologists. In California, the public can help conserve bats by reporting bat colonies (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Bats/Report-Colony) and sick or dead bats (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/WNS). In Arizona, the public can report bat colonies or observations of sick or dead bats to bats@azgfd.gov.

Natural resource managers in California and Arizona are monitoring the rapid spread of WNS across North America and watching local bat species for evidence of Pd. As part of routine surveillance conducted by the National Park Service (NPS) in April and May, biologists collected samples from bats in Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park, Death Valley National Park, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and a private property in Chester, California. The sites span a region that includes Inyo, San Bernardino, Shasta and Plumas Counties in California and Mohave County in Arizona.

Samples were analyzed at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and suggest that DNA from the fungus may be present in very low amounts on seven bat species from these sites, including two species not previously known to carry Pd. However, it is also possible that these inconclusive results do not reflect a true presence of Pd on these bats.

Similar findings were first reported at Grand Canyon National Park in 2019 and one site in Plumas County, California in 2018.

White-nose syndrome is a serious concern for wildlife managers across North America, as it has caused significant population declines in several susceptible bat species. Bats become infected during hibernation through physical contact with other bats or a contaminated roost surface, enabling the disease to spread quickly through a colony. The disease is not known to pose a direct health risk to people, pets or wildlife other than bats.

Federal and state officials in Arizona and California have been collaborating and preparing for the possible arrival of the fungus for many years. In support of the national response to WNS, surveillance for Pd and WNS is administered by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the NPS, NAU, Bat Conservation International and many other state and federal agencies and partners. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has partnered with the NPS and others to screen bats for the fungus since 2016. These agencies, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Bureau of Land Management and other partner organizations will continue to work together to monitor for Pd and WNS in the region.

People can protect bats and help slow the spread of the fungus by honoring closures in caves, old mine adits and other areas used by bats. Additionally, people can help slow the spread of WNS by decontaminating caving and climbing gear and other equipment used in areas where bats live, and avoiding the transport of this equipment to other locations used by bats. Visit https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org for more information.

Bats are essential for healthy ecosystems and contribute at least $3 billion annually to the U.S. agriculture economy through pest control and pollination. White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in North America – with mortality rates of up to 100 percent observed at some colonies – since it was first seen in New York in 2006. To date, WNS has been confirmed in bats from 37 states and seven Canadian provinces. Pseudogymnoascus destructans has been found without confirmation of disease in two additional states (Mississippi and New Mexico).

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue funding to support Arizona’s sport fish stocking program

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PHOENIX — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) of its proposal to continue to fund, in part, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) sport fish stocking program over the next 10 years.

The FONSI decision means that FWS can continue funding to support AZGFD’s hatchery operations and fish stocking activities that provide recreational opportunities for anglers.

As part of the Proposed Action, conservation measures were incorporated that will offset or reduce the effects of the stocking action to the level that is not significant to the human environment and ultimately contribute to conservation and recovery of native species. The conservation measures were developed as a coordinated effort between the FWS’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), FWS Arizona Ecological Services Office, and AZGFD.

The FONSI decision followed an EA process that analyzed two alternatives, the Proposed Action and the No Action alternative. After review of public and agency comments received on the Draft EA, WSFR and the Arizona Ecological Services Office and AZGFD revised the conservation measures to provide additional detail and clarification. The final EA reflects these modifications, provides corrections to the document where warranted, and adds clarification as requested in public and agency comments.

Under the Proposed Action, funding will support stocking of sport fish at 186 individual sites in selected rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and tanks in the state. It will also support continued operations and maintenance of five AZGFD hatcheries that rear sport fish (primarily trout) for stocking. The actions in this alternative are the most comparable to the stocking program that has been in place since 2011.

Hundreds of thousands of Arizona residents and nonresidents take advantage of the state’s recreational fishing opportunities each year. There were 6,009,716 angler use days (AUDs) of fishing in Arizona, with a total annual economic impact of $1.47 billion based on 2013 numbers (Duda 2014; Fedler 2014). The demand for angling opportunities in Arizona is anticipated to further increase given current trends and projected models of population growth, especially in close proximity to urban areas.

Under the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950, FWS has the authority to provide federal funding to state wildlife agencies for management and restoration of sport fish, as well as public use and benefit from those resources. Funding is provided on a match basis through the WSFR program. Sport Fish Restoration funds through that program come from a federal excise tax on certain fishing equipment and a portion of motorboat fuel tax revenues. In July 2021, Arizona received about $8 million in Sport Fish Restoration Act funds.

Williams Fire department responds to Route 66 fire

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Fire fighters respond to a fire at the Turquoise Tepee on Route 66.

WILLIAMS — Williams Fire and Police units responded to a fire at the Turquoise Tepee at 114 W. Route 66 at about 8 a.m. this morning. When the owners arrived, a local resident extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher. Fire fighters went through the display that was on fire to ensure it would not reflash. The fire caused little damage to the store.

Williams Fire Fighters ensuring fire is completely out.

Woman drowned in flash flood

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PAGE – On Saturday, July 31st at 6:00 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and National Park Service (NPS) responded to Labyrinth Canyon on Lake Powell after receiving information of a possible flash flood drowning. Deputies responding to the Labyrinth Canyon area were advised that a female hiking with her family had drowned as a result of flooding in the popular slot canyon.
The Victim, Heather S. Rutledge a 43-year-old female out of Louisville, Ky was hiking the Labyrinth Canyon with her husband and 3 sons at approximately 2 pm when she and her family were caught in a flash flood that ultimately drowned Mrs. Rutledge. The husband and children were ultimately able to locate Heather and performed CPR but were unsuccessful. Family members unable to move Heather, had to make their way back to the boat they had rented and get help.

Once back at the Rental Boat they discovered it had been damaged by the flash flood and was undrivable. A boater in the area was able to tow the boat out to the mouth of Labyrinth Canyon where contact was made with an NPS Boat. NPS transported the Victims family back to Antelope Point Marina where rescuers were preparing to locate and recover Heather. Due to weather conditions, darkness, and the potential of another flash flood, recovery operations were put off until the next Morning, on Sunday August 1.

On the morning of August 1st, at 6:00 am Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Rangers from NPS drove by boat, to the area in Labyrinth Canyon that the victim and her family had stopped at. Due to flood debris, rescuers could not use the kayaks to get up the rest of the canyon and had to swim through heavy canyon debris, to locate the deceased. Once located, she was removed back to the boat and transported to Wahweap Marina where the Coconino County Medical Examiner took custody of the victim and transported back to Flagstaff.

Special thanks for the invaluable assistance from the National Parks Service in this matter. Further investigation into this incident is being conducted by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office. No further information is available currently.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office recommends knowing the forecast in an around the area when you are participating in recreational activities in canyon country. Flash Floods can start many miles up canyon from where you are recreating.

More information can be found at the National Weather Service at https://www.weather.gov/mob/Severe_Flood.