Meetings kicking off I-11 corridor study draw big turnout

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PHOENIX — The numbers speak volumes about Arizona’s interest in the proposed Interstate 11: Six public meetings held recently attracted 540 community members who shared comments and questions. Hundreds more offered their perspectives online.
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The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Interstate 11 study team visited Casa Grande, Buckeye, Nogales, Tucson, Marana and Wickenburg to involve the community in a process known as public scoping, part of an environmental study to select a corridor alternative between Nogales and Wickenburg.

That had ADOT representatives answering questions, receiving feedback, and encouraging attendees to mark suggestions and concerns on maps of the 280-mile-long corridor study area.

“We’re excited about the high level of interest and engagement that we’ve seen,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The great turnout and the opportunity for the public to tell us what’s important to them are critical to this process.”

No specific routes for I-11 have been chosen or favored at this early stage in the process. ADOT’s goal is having a selected corridor alternative in place at the end of the environmental study. A no-build alternative will be considered as well.

The next formal public involvement opportunity will begin early next year, when the study team will present possible routes for I-11.

In addition to those who attended the June meetings, 125 people submitted comment forms or surveys and 522 people completed an online survey during a 45-day comment period.

The study team, which also held scoping meetings in Phoenix, Casa Grande and Tucson with representatives of 21 federal, state and local agencies, will now analyze the feedback.

Anyone interested in sharing their views about the study can do so at any time throughout the study process. Information and materials, including a map of the corridor study area, are available at i11study.com/Arizona.

Comments can be provided via mail, email and voicemail:

Email: I-11ADOTStudy@hdrinc.com
Toll-free bilingual telephone hotline: 1-844-544-8049
Mail:

Interstate 11 Tier 1 EIS Study Team
c/o ADOT Communications
1655 W. Jackson St., Mail Drop 126F
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Williams Ranger District announces plans to begin fall prescribed burning

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WILLIAMS — Fire managers on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest have completed plans for the 2016 fall and 2017 spring prescribed fire burning seasons and are planning to begin working as early as mid-August on several projects. The specific units to be ignited will be chosen based on fuel moistures and weather conditions that are within prescriptive levels that meet fuels reduction objectives.

The flowing project areas are planned for treatments:

Green Base Dry Lake Project: Ten burn units northeast of Williams, approximately 9,040 acres.
Green Base Parks West Project: Four burn units east of Williams, approximately 5,141 acres.
McCracken East Project: Two burn units south of Williams, approximately 839 acres.
McCracken West Prescribed Fire: Four burn units south of Williams, approximately 1,693 acres.
Kendrick Prescribed Fire: Six burn units northeast of Williams approximately 2,497 acres.
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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.

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. Furthermore, fire managers will remain cognizant of wind direction and ventilation with the intent to minimize smoke impacts to businesses and residences.

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.

Changing weather influences growth patterns on Sunflower and Ike fires

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WILLIAMS — The two fires being allowed to spread in a natural setting on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are growing slowly but steadily as weather conditions and precipitation levels fluctuate daily.

“The varying weather trends we are experiencing at this time on the Sunflower and Ike fires are influencing a combination of fire severity and intensities which result in a wide range of natural effects to forest vegetation” said Williams District Ranger Danelle D. Harrison. “Although the rate of fire spread is presently low, an increase in fire behavior can occur quickly within a day or two as weather dries out. This will create a desired mosaic pattern which will largely improve forest health meeting our objectives.”

Fire managers expect that both fires will continue growing following this current trend and will likely burn for an extended period of time with weather being the predominant factor influencing duration.

Crews are actively taking actions to protect structures, private inholdings, sensitive archeological sites, range fences, power lines, and wildlife habitats before the fire approaches these values at risk. Tasks include removing burnable material away from these locations and constructing fire break control lines to secure sensitive features within the planning area.

A Forest Area Closure Order [#07-16-09-F (PDF)] remains in effect in the vicinity of the fire that includes the following areas: North of Forest Roads (FR) 110 and 109, East of FR 747 and Big Spring Wash, then South of FR 139 and West of FR 109.

Smoke will be noticeable at times and may periodically impact nearby communities that include Williams, Parks, Bellemont, Sherwood Forest, Pittman Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden, Prescott, Camp Verde, Flagstaff and Sedona. Monitoring smoke production will remain a top priority for fire managers who will adjust actions to alleviate impacts to effected communities.

Fire restrictions to be lifted tomorrow on North Kaibab Ranger District

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WILLIAMS — Due to the decreasing risk of fire danger, the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will lift campfire and smoking restrictions, also known as Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, at 8 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, July 27).

To date, many areas of the district have received the adequate amount of precipitation needed to warrant conditions being lifted. However, visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources.

“Although not widespread, we’ve had wetting rain events over the past week throughout portions of the Kaibab Plateau,” said North Zone Fuels Specialist Dave Robinson. “So we urge our forest visitors to remain vigilant and utilize proper campfire safety techniques and precautions – drown and stir until the campfire is cold to the touch.”

The Kaibab National Forest is committed to educating visitors about camping responsibly and being fire safe. Never leave a campfire unattended, even for a few minutes. Additional tips on camping responsibly are available at www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go/responsible-recreation, which include answering nature’s call, being fire safe, avoiding interaction with wildlife, and respecting and protecting archaeological sites so that our National Forest and grasslands may be enjoyed for future generations.

Coco fire grows to 35 acres

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TUSAYAN — The Coco fire grew to 35-acres and forest crews are burning for suppression. Crews finished burning along Forest Road 2719 yesterday to prevent the fire from spreading.

Today, firefighters will continue by burning along approximately 2 miles of the Arizona Trail from Watson Trick Tank to Forest Road 303. This work will reduce any potential for high intensity fire and improve safety to users of the trail.

The Arizona Trail will be open to hikers, however, it is advised to use caution as there will be some smoke in the area. The winds today will be out of the northeast and smoke is expected to be visible from Highway 64 and the Grand Canyon East Rim Drive as well as from the town of Valle.

Sunflower and Ike fires to be utilized for achieving land management objectives

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WILLIAMS — Recent moisture from monsoonal rains have created favorable conditions on the Williams Ranger District prompting Kaibab National Forest officials  to utilize the lightning caused “Sunflower” and “Ike” fires to spread in a natural progression within a designated planning area.

Each fire is carefully considered with an extensive process that includes consideration of potential short- and long-term smoke impacts to communities. The intent is to re-introduce fire back into the adapted environment, enhance overall forest health, reduce hazardous fuel loads, and protect valued resources while providing for firefighter and public safety first.

Objectives for this strategy include using low to moderate intensity fire with occasional high severity intensities to consume accumulations of dead and down woody debris from the forest floor. Additionally, burning off the understory fuels help raise the canopy heights of the older trees ultimately protecting them from being lost to a potential catastrophic fire event in the future.

There are a number of additional benefits for allowing fire to burn in a natural setting, which include protection of wildlife habitat, historic heritage sites, vital watersheds, critical infrastructure, and residential expansions that fall within the urban interface where human developments meet the forest. Soils also become replenished with nutrients as burnt organic material decomposes into the ground stimulating new growth of native forbs and grasses.

A Forest Area Closure Order (#07-16-09-F) has been implemented in the vicinity of the fire that includes the following areas: North of Forest Roads (FR) 110 and 109, East of FR 747 and Big Spring Wash, then South of FR 139 and West of FR 109.

Smoke will be noticeable and may periodically impact nearby communities that include Williams, Parks, Bellemont, Pittman Valley, Chino Valley, Prescott, Camp Verde, Flagstaff and Sedona. Monitoring smoke production levels will be a top priority for fire managers who are prepared to take specific actions to reduce amounts effecting rural areas.

Spring hunt recommendations to be available for review

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of six “open houses” for its constituents to review and ask questions about proposed hunt recommendations for spring hunts for turkey, javelina, bison and bear.

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

The proposed recommendations are posted at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  • Tues., July 26: 4-6:30 p.m. Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.
  • Thurs., July 27: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • Tues., Aug. 2: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • Wed., Aug. 3: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  • Wed., Aug. 3: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th St.
  • Wed., Aug. 3: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its Aug. 5 meeting in Flagstaff.

To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Sen. McCain assures sportsmen, AZGFD he’ll fight proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument

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GRAND CANYON — Overlooking the Grand Canyon on Wednesday, multiple sportsmen’s groups met with Sen. John McCain to discuss their opposition to designating the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument, which would greatly impact access to hunting and fishing, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s ability to properly manage wildlife.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is opposed to a proposal that would needlessly create a national monument north of the Grand Canyon. Such a designation would limit the public’s access to more than 1.7 million acres of the Kaibab Plateau and will greatly impact local residents, sportsmen and sportswomen, and AZGFD’s mission to properly manage the state’s wildlife.

“The land is here for the people,” Mule Deer Foundation Regional Director Terry Herndon told McCain during a meeting at Grand Canyon National Park with sportsmen’s groups, community leaders and business owners. “It is absolutely critical to maintain our access for hunting and fishing, and for the Arizona Game and Fish Department to be able to continue to do their job to manage our wildlife.”

Those gathered also expressed concern the designation could impact access to water resources and could block further access to public lands, which will lead to degradation of wildlife populations and habitat on one of the most important hunting areas in the U.S.

Sen. McCain pledged to fight any designation of a Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument and vowed to ask Congress to overturn any such action, if created by President Barack Obama.

“If the president issues this executive order, I promise to make it my highest priority to have it overturned in January,” McCain said. “We must weigh the full impact and what we’re losing with this designation. This will eliminate a way of life and that isn’t fair to our residents or visitors. This will also greatly affect the heritage of our state and those who depend on multi-use areas such as this.”

Creation of the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument could well transfer jurisdiction of the area watershed to the National Park Service, which already has an $11.6 billion maintenance backlog, and will hamper forest thinning projects designed to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Final paving scheduled on SR 89 at Perkinsville in Chino Valley tomorrow

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CHINO VALLEY — Final paving is scheduled on the new roundabout on State Route 89 at Perkinsville in Chino Valley tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26. Crews will pave the roundabout starting at 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. and then again from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Minor delays are expected during work hours. The roundabout is expected to be fully-functional by the middle of August.

Drivers may have minimal impacts during work hours and ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

This $1.5 million project consists of a new roundabout at the intersection of SR 89 and Perkinsville Road between mileposts 328 and 329. Additional work includes removal and replacement of existing pavement, drainage improvements, new pavement markings and lighting.

Paving work on westbound Interstate 40 between Country Club and Butler Avenue underway

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FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews continue with paving operations on westbound Interstate 40, beginning two miles east of Butler Avenue (milepost 198) to one mile west of Butler Avenue (milepost 197) on Tuesday at 4 am to noon.

During construction there will be lane closures and reduced speed in the construction zone.

ADOT advises travelers to allow for extra time for travel in the area, and to watch for crews and equipment in the work zone.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.