Category Archives: State Government

Ribbon-cutting at Willow Beach hatchery celebrates successful partnership

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willow-beachWILLOW BEACH — A ribbon-cutting event on Thursday at the now functioning Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery celebrated the renewed collaborative efforts by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Mohave County that will boost economic activity and preserve trout fishing on the lower Colorado River in Mohave County for future generations.

On Wednesday, Arizona Senator John McCain continued his staunch support for the project as he watched thousands of rainbow trout pour from a stocking truck into the Colorado River below Davis Dam.

Trout stockings at the hatchery, which had ceased in 2013 due in part to a water intake system failure, support approximately 1,700 jobs and generate $75 million in economy activity along this stretch of the river.

“Significant collaborations were needed to rebuild the water intake system at the hatchery,” said AZGFD Director Larry Voyles. “We’re particularly grateful to Senator John McCain, Representative Paul Gosar and Mohave County Supervisor Hildy Angius for their ardent support in bringing trout propagation back to Willow Beach. The collective efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and local stakeholders have come to fruition.”

Stockings from the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery are anticipated in early 2017. AZGFD’s commitment to anglers for great trout fishing opportunities on this area of the Colorado River is evidenced by great relations with local businesses and organizations. Ongoing stockings have been made possible by donations from local pest abatement districts.

Willow Beach NFH had been unable to rear or stock sport fish after sustaining pipeline and infrastructure damage in November 2013. After the failure, the Arizona Game and Fish Department worked collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Senator McCain, the Arizona Congressional delegation, and Mohave County to solve the problem.

In August 2014, Senator McCain toured the hatchery and was briefed on a variety of engineering plans to repair the hatchery’s damaged pipeline. Preliminary cost estimates for repairs totaled up to $9 million. Senator McCain urged USFWS to coordinate with Mohave County and AZGFD to develop an affordable and reasonable solution to move repairs forward.

In March 2015, USFWS and AZGFD finalized an agreement to begin restoring trout stocking operations at Willow Beach.

Rainbow trout eggs are anticipated to arrive at Willow Beach NFH in November 2016 to augment the 50,000 fingerlings the AZGFD provided in August. The eggs will come through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Hatchery System, and are expected to be of catchable size in the autumn of 2017.

Commission Appointment Recommendation Board to meet Oct. 25

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, beginning at 9 a.m., to review and select for interview applicants for the 2017 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The meeting will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix and is open to the public.

The meeting agenda is posted at www.azgfd.gov/board.

The board will meet again on Wednesday, Nov. 9, beginning at 9 a.m., to conduct interviews with the candidates who were selected at the Oct. 25 meeting. That meeting is also at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix and is open to the public. The board will select from two to five finalists at the Nov. 9 meeting and forward those names to Gov. Doug Ducey for his consideration.

Members of the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board are Susan E. Chilton (chair), W. Hays Gilstrap, Charles I. Kelly, William J. (“Jim”) Lane, and Phillip D. Townsend.

Per Arizona State Statute 17-202, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending candidates for appointment to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall recommend at least two, but no more than five, candidates to the governor. The governor must select and appoint a commissioner from the list submitted by the board.

For additional information about the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board, contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449 or toll free at 1-800-253-0883 or on the web at www.azgovernor.gov.

ADEQ Air Quality Control Permits Energy Fuels Resources Inc.

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The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued Air Quality Permit Nos. 62877, 62878, and 63895 to Energy Fuels Resources (USA), Inc. for the Canyon, EZ, and Arizona 1 uranium mines on Oct. 13, 2016.

The EZ and Arizona 1 mines are located north of Grand Canyon National Park, and approximately 35 southwest of Fredonia, and the Canyon mine is located south of Grand Canyon National Park and approximately 6.5 miles southeast of Tusayan.

Visit ADEQ’s website to view the final permit documents and response to public comments by clicking this link: http://azdeq.gov/EnergyFuelsRes.

I-40 closed due to multi-vehicle accident

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i-40-2016-10-19-01WILLIAMS — ADOT and Kaibab Forest Service are re-routing traffic due to a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 40 early this morning. The number of vehicles and fatalities is unknown at this time. The smoke from the Pittman Valley prescribed burn may have been a factor in the accident. Smoke from the burn has reduced visibility to near zero and may hamper rescue and clearing efforts.
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Route 66 to Parks currently remains open, but it is highly recommended that you use extreme caution as the smoke is affecting visibility along the route. If you do not absolutely have to travel to Flagstaff, it is recommended that you wait to check conditions in about four-hours.

A report from our Facebook page:

Sarah Jorgensen-Weller 32 mins I40 is closed in both directions from Parks to Flagstaff due to a deadly accident. Please be careful driving through the smoke. hearing from Belmont to Williams Some guys that work with my hubby are stuck in traffic around Parks. They are stopping traffic at Belmont westbound eastbound detours off of 165 .

Public forums set for 2017 pronghorn, elk hunt recommendations

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pronghornPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host four public forums to meet with constituents about developing the 2017 hunt recommendations for pronghorn, elk and population management seasons.

The department annually makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trapping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and hunt permit-tag allocations, based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The meetings will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 19: Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • Thursday, Oct. 20: Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26: Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • Thursday, Oct. 27: Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.

Constituents who are interested in specific game management units within those regions will have the opportunity to discuss management direction. The proposed hunt recommendations will be outlined during a short presentation, which will be followed by an opportunity to submit comments regarding those recommendations. All comments will be reviewed by the department.

After the public forums have been completed, the final proposed draft hunt recommendations will be made available for public review at several regional open houses and posted on the department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines by Nov. 21, 2016.

Open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  • 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23: Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  • 3 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23: Yuma, 9140 E. 28th St.
  • 3 to 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 28: Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  • 3 to 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 28: Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • 3 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29: Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., TBD: Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.

The final 2017 pronghorn and elk hunt recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its Dec. 3 meeting in Phoenix.

South Mountain Freeway design meetings draw big crowds, important input

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meeting-0277_cropPHOENIX – Nearly 800 people attended three public meetings on preliminary design plans for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, providing input and asking questions that will guide final design of the 22-mile-long link between the West Valley and East Valley.

The meetings, held in Ahwatukee Foothills, Laveen and west Phoenix, provided an opportunity for residents to learn more about the freeway’s alignment, traffic interchanges, noise walls, landscaping and aesthetics.

Representatives from the Arizona Department of Transportation and the developer, Connect 202 Partners, answered questions, received feedback and encouraged attendees to provide comments on detailed design plans.

“The South Mountain Freeway has generated significant interest, as evidenced by the great attendance at these design meetings,” said Rob Samour, ADOT senior deputy state engineer of major projects.

All input is being assessed by ADOT’s development team and, when possible, will influence how the freeway is constructed.

A comprehensive summary of the public meetings, which will be posted at SouthMountainFreeway.com in November, will address any questions that remained unanswered after the three meetings. Participants submitted about 500 comment forms and question cards.

For those who were unable to attend the meetings, the presentations have been posted online and the public can provide feedback through Thursday, Oct. 20, in these ways:

  • Online: SouthMountainFreeway.com
  • Email: SouthMountainFreewayInfo@c202p.com
  • Phone: 1.855.SMF.L202 (1.855.763.5202), or para Español, 623.239.4558
  • Mail: ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

The latest project information is available via the project website at SouthMountainFreeway.com, email and text updates (click “Subscribe for Updates” on the project website) and the project hotline numbers (1.855.763.5202, or para Español, 623.239.4558).

Construction of the South Mountain Freeway began in September with improvements to the Interstate 10/Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) interchange. Work includes extending Loop 202 HOV lanes and widening the shoulders to Pecos Road near 48th Street. Construction of the mainline freeway is scheduled to begin in early 2017.

Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley when it opens to traffic by the end of 2019.

Overnight closures planned on Interstate 17 near Flagstaff Saturday and early Sunday for overhead utility work

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FLAGSTAFF — Five temporary full closures of Interstate 17 near Flagstaff will be required this weekend to accommodate overhead utility work.

North and southbound traffic on I-17 at milepost 337 – located just south of John Wesley Powell Boulevard and west of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport – will be stopped while utility crews are working. Closures are scheduled to begin at 11:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, and continue to 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. Each of the five closures is expected to last approximately 15 minutes.

Drivers should allow extra time for travel, use caution in the work zone and watch for equipment and personnel.

For more information about this project, please call Coralie Cole, ADOT Senior Community Relations Officer, at 602.501.4899, or email ccole@azdot.gov.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but it’s possible that unscheduled closures or restrictions might occur because of weather or other factors. For the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the

ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 511, except while driving.

ServiceArizona.com meets record demand for voter registration

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PHOENIX – A record 45,294 Arizonans registered Monday to vote in the general election through ServiceArizona.com, the customer website offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division. Another 18,576 registered to vote on Sunday through ServiceArizona.com, with use beginning to spike during that evening’s presidential debate.

Demand was so great as Monday’s deadline to register loomed that ADOT worked with IBM, the provider behind ServiceArizona.com, to increase capacity.

“We take our role in the voter registration process seriously and are dedicated to ensuring all voters can exercise their right to register at their convenience,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said.

ServiceArizona.com’s previous one-day record for voter registrations was 36,532 on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, the deadline to register to vote in that year’s general election.

Using ServiceArizona.com via computer, smartphone or tablet, Arizonans can register to vote for the first time or update their voter information such as home address, political party preference, early voting status and other information.

Once a person completes the process either online or in person, their information is sent to the Secretary of State’s Office, where it is recorded and shared with county election offices. Since 2002, ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division has facilitated nearly 6 million voter transactions online and at MVD offices.

“Our long-standing partnership with ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division benefits Arizona by allowing more people to become voters and enabling current voters to update their information in the most convenient ways possible,” Secretary of State Michele Reagan said. “It’s great to see the number of registered voters grow, and I’m optimistic this will translate into higher turnout on Election Day.”

2017 Heritage Fund Grants request due October 31

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heritage-fundThe Oct. 31 deadline to submit applications for more than $400,000 in Heritage Fund grants is quickly approaching.

Grants will be awarded based on a competitive application process in the following categories: environmental education, outdoor education, schoolyard habitat, urban wildlife/habitat, public access, and Identification, Inventory, Acquisition, Protection and Management (IIAPM). This year 501(c) non-profit organizations can apply for grant funds without the need of a sponsor.

Heritage Fund grant background
The Heritage Fund was created after voters approved an initiative in 1990 and is funded through Arizona Lottery ticket sales. Heritage funding goes toward conservation efforts such as protecting endangered species, educating students and the general public about wildlife and the outdoors, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The grant program was established by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 1992 as part of the overall Heritage Fund program. The grants were initially developed as a way to promote outreach to enhance important partnerships and generate fresh approaches in support of the department’s mission.

Since the grant program’s inception, the department has awarded more than $14 million and supported more than 700 projects throughout the state.

Project requirements and how to apply
Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in the state.

Applicants should refer to the documents on the Heritage Grant web page for guidance on applying. The documents include the Heritage Grant Application Manual, the Heritage Grant Application Form and the various “Heritage Grant Funding Window” documents, which describe eligibility information and provide specific eligibility criteria listed within each grant sub-category.

Proposals/applications for these grants can be submitted either by e-mail to rbeck@azgfd.gov or mailed to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Wildlife Grant Administrator, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. No faxed applications will be accepted.

Applicants can submit grant applications up until the application deadline of 5 p.m. (MST) Monday, Oct. 31, 2016.

Extra trout stockings in White Mountains lakes to provide great fall fishing

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white-mountain-fishingPINETOP — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has recently stocked thousands of catchable size rainbow trout into many of the White Mountain lakes. This gives anglers an extra incentive to get out to the lakes this fall.

Show Low Lake was stocked with 4,000 rainbow trout. Bear Canyon and Willow Springs Lake received 5,000 fish each. Another 7,000 trout went into Woods Canyon Lake. Fool Hollow Lake and River Reservoir each received 8,000 trout.

The AZGFD hatcheries had a surplus of fish that needed to be stocked into lakes to make room for next year’s trout. These fish were all stocked within the last 2 weeks, and the fishing should be great—especially with the cooler temperatures of fall.

This time of year, try fishing for rainbow trout using green, garlic scented PowerBait or worms. Tiger trout were also stocked for the first time in Arizona this year into Willow Springs and Woods Canyon lakes. Catch tiger trout using lures—they are more aggressive than rainbow trout. Bear Canyon Lake is a hike-in-only lake, but worth the short, steep hike. All others are easily accessible.