Tag Archives: Oak Creek

State Route 89A closed at Oak Creek Canyon because of a sinkhole

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State Route 89A is closed at the Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks due to a sinkhole which appeared on the roadway during the weekend. The highway is closed in both directions between mileposts 387-390, between Sedona and Flagstaff. Motorists can use Interstate 17 as an alternate route.

The closure is expected to remain while investigations regarding the cause of the sinkhole and repairs can be made. An announcement will be made once the situation has been remedied and the switchbacks are available for use. Investigations are underway and are expected to continue through the week.

ADEQ Awards Oak Creek Watershed Council $120,040 Grant to Reduce Pollution in Oak Creek

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ADEQ logo resizedPHOENIX – Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials announced today that a $120,040 grant has been awarded to the Oak Creek Watershed Council to assist in controlling polluted runoff into Oak Creek from primarily the Settler’s Rest neighborhood in West Sedona.

The neighborhood is located near the top of Carrol Canyon, a popular spot near the Sedona Airport for hiking, people walking their dogs and horseback riding. The Carrol Canyon drainage typically moves runoff with elevated levels of nutrients, sediment and E. coli bacteria and shortly thereafter empties the stormwater into Oak Creek.

The grant is one of eight in Arizona this year administered by ADEQ’s Water Quality Improvement Grant program (WQIG) to address polluted runoff from many different sources. Oak Creek, from its headwaters to its confluence with Spring Creek in Oak Creek Canyon, is listed as impaired for E. coli.

The funding will be used to develop best management practices in the Settler’s Rest area like a series of retention basins and armored spillways and planting of native plants for soil retention and bioremediation. Outreach efforts will be made to encourage other residents and homeowner associations throughout Sedona to adopt similar practices. Erosion control work also will be performed and maintenance of dog waste stations to the extent that funding allows.

“This grant money will help restore water quality in one of the most beautiful and heavily visited tourist areas in the state,” ADEQ Director Henry Darwin said.

Seasonal and storm repairs on SR 89A through Oak Creek underway

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adot-logo-03aMotorists travelling on SR 89A through Oak Creek Canyon may experience delays as maintenance crews clear debris and repair drainage facilities as part of ADOT storm response operations. Cleanup work will occur from the Midgley Bridge just north of Sedona and continue through the area switchbacks.

While work is underway please prepare for delays and plan accordingly. Operations will be underway weekly from 7 a.m. To 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and is anticipated to be completed by Oct. 16.

Fire restrictions lifted in Coconino and Kaibab

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640px-Kaibab-140709-02FLAGSTAFF – Due to significant and widespread rain and rapidly decreasing fire danger, the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona will lift all fire restrictions at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8.

640px-Kaibab-140709-01Managers typically lift fire restrictions when at least a half inch of precipitation has been received over more than two-thirds of the forests. To date, many areas of both forests have received double that amount of precipitation, with an inch or more of rain being reported in many locations. Fire danger has decreased dramatically from “extreme” last week to “moderate” today.

Besides lifting all fire restrictions, the Kaibab National Forest will also reopen the Bill Williams Mountain Watershed on the Williams Ranger District tomorrow morning, which had been closed to public entry due to wildfire risk. The Coconino National Forest is evaluating conditions in Fossil Creek and will make a determination later this week about the appropriate time to reopen the area.

“With the onset of the monsoon season, the low number of human-caused fire starts, and the availability of many firefighting resources, we are comfortable that it is the appropriate time to lift fire restrictions,” said Holly Kleindienst, deputy fire staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “Fire restrictions were extremely effective this year in reducing the number of fires caused by people. We are thankful to our visitors for their help in preventing fires by complying with the restrictions that were in effect.”

800px-bee-01The two forests initially implemented campfire and smoking restrictions on April 18. This was relatively early but was necessary due to a dry winter and impacts of long-term drought on the forests. Additional fire restrictions and area closures were implemented as the forests faced increasing levels of fire danger through the spring and summer.

While all fire restrictions will be lifted as of tomorrow, forest visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources. For information on preventing human-caused fires.

State Route 89A and Oak Creek Canyon Businesses are Open

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640px-89a140501-1OAK CREEK – Even though the Slide Fire has been extinguished, there remains a threat of flash floods, mudslides and rock slides in Oak Creek Canyon. On three occasions recently, the Arizona Department of Transportation temporarily closed portions of State Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff due to flooding and debris flow. With the exception of weather driven closures, State Route 89A remains open. Even though Forest Service campgrounds and forest service recreation areas in Oak Creek Canyon are closed, all of the businesses are open.

Public safety agencies are trying to reduce the negative impact of road closures on residents and businesses by limiting closures. There will be times that the road closes for public safety and motorist safety reasons. Once the highway is closed responding agencies work together to reopen the highway as soon as possible. Life Safety is of paramount importance to agencies responding to the area

Debris flow caused by storm water runoff in Oak Creek has resulted in grey murky water creating questions regarding water quality in Oak Creek. According to the Coconino County Public Health Services District, water contamination is likely following flooding events. Health officials recommend that residents and visitors, especially children and pets, not drink untreated creek water or swim in the creek water as bacteria may be present.

Residents with concerns regarding water quality and well water questions are advised to refer to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Concerns from Wildfire document (PDF).

As a reminder, flash floods can occur after a few minutes or hours of heavy rainfall. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of moving water carrying rocks, mud and other debris. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods, rockslides and debris flows within and downstream of the Slide Fire scar area. Please use caution. Move away from the water and if possible head toward State Route 89A or get to high ground east of Oak Creek during flood events.

Junipine fire 25% contained

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OAK CREEK – Just after recovering from the Slide Fire, the residents of upper Oak Creek were evacuated briefly from 4 to about 10:30 pm on the 16th. Reports today indicate that the fire remains as 13-acres and is 25% contained. The decrease wind-speed will no doubt assist fire fighters in their efforts. The fire was started by a downed power line. State Route 89 from Flagstaff to Sedona remains open after ADOT completed road work earlier than anticipated.

Slide Fire Community Meeting Planned planned for tomorrow

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Slide Fire Information Facebook photo

Slide Fire Information Facebook photo

SEDONA – A community meeting is scheduled in Sedona to discuss the possibility of flooding from the Slide Fire during the monsoon season. The meeting will be held tomorrow—Thursday, June 19 from 4 to 6 pm—at the Sedona Red Rock High School Performing Arts Center; 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road.

The meeting will be conducted by the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai counties, and the cooperative agencies which assisted in fighting the human-caused blaze. Residents will receive an update on the U.S. Forest Service’s Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment of the Slide Fire. Attendees will also learn how multiple agencies have spent the past several weeks assessing Oak Creek Canyon properties in anticipation of possible monsoonal flooding this summer.

A video recording of the meeting will be posted June 20 at the Coconino County YouTube Channel for those unable to attend the meeting. A link to the video will be posted at the Coconino County Post-Slide Fire Information web page.

The Slide Fire began May 20 just north of Slide Rock State Park and charred more than 21,000 acres north of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. The fire was fully contained on June 6. Investigation into the start of the fire is still on-going.

Wildland Fire in Oak Creek Canyon Results in Mandatory Evacuations in the Junipine Area

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OAK CREEK CANYON – A wildland fire in Oak Creek Canyon has resulted in the partial closure of State Route 89A. The Junipine Lodge and the residential neighborhood in the immediate area of the lodge have been placed under a mandatory evacuation order. Residents located in Oak Creek Canyon north of Junipine to the bottom of the switchbacks have been given a pre-evacuation notification. Approximately 40 individuals have left their homes located in Junipine. The American Red Cross has established an evacuee reception center at Sinagua Middle School located at 3950 East Butler Avenue in Flagstaff. Evacuated pets can be taken to the Coconino County Humane Shelter located at 3501 East Butler Avenue.

SR 89A project resumes in Oak Creek Canyon’s switchbacks

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adot-logo3OAK CREEK – As the battle against the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon winds down, the ongoing highway-improvement project along the “switchbacks” section of State Route 89A will resume this weekend.

The previously-scheduled closure of the three-mile stretch of SR 89A between the Pine Flat Campground and the Vista scenic overlook south of Flagstaff will remain in place for several weeks while crews remove loose rocks above the switchbacks, complete other safety improvements and resurface the highway.

SR 89A will reopen to traffic before the Fourth of July weekend.

The full closure of the highway had been scheduled to start on Tuesday (May 27) but crews were temporarily pulled off the project more than a week ago (Tuesday, May 20) due to the Slide Fire.

DETOUR INFO: While the switchbacks section along SR 89A is closed, ADOT recommends drivers use Interstate 17 and State Route 179 to travel between Flagstaff and Sedona.

Emergency Area Closure for the Slide Fire

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640px-sliderockFLAGSTAFF – The Coconino National Forest has issued an emergency closure on all National Forest System lands within the area of the Slide Fire on the Coconino National Forest, in Coconino and Yavapai Counties.

This area closure is implemented as a standard fire operations procedure which helps to protect the public from entering into an area that is still active with fire, so as not to impede the efficiency of firefighters and allow for their safety while they do their job, where snags and rolling rocks will be an issue until mitigated, and during post-fire efforts to abate potential flooding and debris flows. The public is prohibited from entering any trails, roads, or areas within the fire closure area, which will be in force until further notification.

This area, road, and trail closure only affects National Forest System land, roads, and trails within the closure area on the Coconino National Forest. The closure does not affect any private, state, county, or other Non-National Forest System lands within the closure boundary.

Wildfires behave differently in areas where fuels have been previously treated. Fast moving wildfires slow down when they burn onto the footprints of past wildfires, prescribed burns, or thinned areas. As we learn to live with wildfire as a natural part of the ecosystem, we continue to reduce risks associated with uncharacteristic wildfires.