WILLIAMS — There is about a 20% chance of thunderstorms tonight and through Friday. It is expected to clear up Saturday morning remaining sunny through Memorial Day. Monday night partly cloudy skies return. Winds will be from 9- to 17-mph tonight and tomorrow with gusts as high as 24-mph. Williams Memorial Day weather has returned.
Monthly Archives: May 2016
One-day fishing licenses are 50-percent off: get yours before the holiday weekend
PHOENIX — Your next outdoor adventure just got more affordable: through May 30, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering half-price discounts on short-term fishing licenses. The license discount is only available online.
This is the first time the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has offered such a license discount. AZGFD is excited to be able to offer better products and increased value while continuing to conserve wildlife for future generations.
Just in time for the Memorial Holiday weekend, short-term (one-day) fishing licenses are only $7.50 per day for Arizona residents and $10 per day for non-residents.
Pick your favorite spot, and get back to basics with some quiet time at the lake. This is the perfect opportunity to tussle with some tiger trout that will be stocked into Mogollon Rim lakes just in time for the first big camping weekend of the year.
In spring 2013, Senate Bill 1223 gave the Arizona Game and Fish Commission authority to change license structure and fees through a streamlined, customer-focused process. AZGFD, which receives no general fund tax revenue, now has the flexibility to offer new products and pricing in response to changing conditions and customer needs.
Visit azgfd.gov for more information and to stay “in the know” on future offers and products.
In Williams, fishing licenses are available at the Outdoor Store on Fourth Street and Route 66, Saya’s on First Street and Route 66 and other locations.
Smoke from forest fire to reduce visibility on Interstate 17 near Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — Motorists traveling on Interstate 17 and State Route 87 in northern Arizona are likely to see smoke over the next week from three fires burning in the Coconino National Forest.
The Cowboy, Mormon and Pivot Rock fires are relatively small in size, and the U.S. Forest Service is allowing them to burn. Smoke could be visible through the weekend from all three fires.
The Cowboy fire is just east of I-17 at the Kelly Canyon Road interchange north of Munds Park. There could be heavy smoke along I-17 between the Newman Park Road and Kelly Canyon Road interchanges on Tuesday as Forest Service crews manage the fire along the interstate.
Flames will be visible from I-17. Smoke will most likely settle over the interstate Tuesday night.
Motorists are advised to use caution, as the smoke could reduce visibility and firefighters will be working near the highway.
Smoke from the Mormon fire, about five miles east of Munds Park, could affect visibility along SR 87 north of Clints Well.
Smoke from the Pivot Rock fire near SR 87 at milepost 284 could also affect visibility along the highway south of Clints Well.
Motorists traveling along State Route 288 north of Roosevelt Lake may also encounter smoke from the Juniper fire, another managed fire in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness Area of the Tonto National Forest.
The Forest Service, under certain conditions, allows fires to burn to reduce fuels and the risk of more severe wildfires. During managed fire operations, community members and visitors may see fire personnel and vehicles in the vicinity.
To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the Arizona Department of Transportation Traveler Information Center at az511.gov, call 511 or follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).
Cross-border traffic on the rise between Arizona and Mexico
PHOENIX — Nearly 8,000 more trucks, 400,000 more passenger vehicles and 900,000 more people entering the U.S. in 2015 through Arizona’s international ports of entry speak to numbers critical to this state’s economy:
• $30 billion in imports and exports passing through Arizona’s ports during the year, including much of the produce consumed in the U.S. during the winter.
• $16.8 billion in Arizona exports to Mexico during 2015.
• 100,000 Arizona jobs supported by trade with Mexico.
• $7.8 million spent daily by those visiting Arizona from Mexico.
“The impact of our ports of entry is far reaching,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “The increase in cross-border traffic is another example of Arizona’s flourishing business climate and growing opportunities for economic development.”
U.S. Department of Transportation figures for northbound traffic at Arizona ports of entry showed commercial trucks up 2.1 percent (388,657 total), passenger vehicles up 4.5 percent (8.9 million total) and people visiting Arizona up 4.1 percent (23.8 million total).
U.S. DOT data show that traffic has increased steadily through the years at ports of entry in Nogales, San Luis, Douglas, Lukeville, Naco and Sasabe:
“This amount of cross-border traffic and the continual upward trend in volume means we must continue to make smart investments at the border and ensure that our ports of entry have the necessary staffing and resources to operate effectively, efficiently and safely,” said John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. “ADOT is working to improve transportation infrastructure at the border, along with traffic flows, with projects slated for State Route 189 and Interstate 19, and ongoing efforts to study how to build Interstate 11 from Nogales to the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge.”
David Farca, president of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, noted that the figures don’t reflect the fact that ports handle southbound traffic as well.
“In reality, our ports of entry processed close to 800,000 trucks, 17 million cars, 48 million people and 1,600 trains,” Farca said. “The ports of entry that connect Arizona to Mexico are of great significance to our economy.”
Arizona also sees considerable sales tax revenue from people who pass through ports of entry to shop, not only in the border communities but the Tucson and Phoenix areas as well.
“A vibrant business relationship with Mexico is key to the growth of Arizona’s economy,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Our region shares many assets and strengths in areas such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, optics, agriculture and much more. Continuing to link resources and leverage assets such as infrastructure and transportation will diversify our economy and enhance our region’s overall competitive position.”
ADOT, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Arizona-Mexico Commission and the Arizona Office of Tourism promote trade and quality infrastructure as members of the Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance (azttca.org). The group, which also includes community leaders in transportation and international trade, was created in 2012 to help boost economic development and create jobs.
Fire managers postpone prescribed fires on Kaibab Plateau
FREDONIA — Effective immediately, North Zone fire managers have postponed this week’s plans to conduct both the Bridge Unit and Moquitch 4 prescribed fires due to predicted high winds on the Kaibab Plateau.
High wind activity could potentially cause implementation efforts to exceed acceptable parameters for the hazardous fuels reduction prescription. Therefore, fire managers will commence plans to test burn on both units once predicted weather, wind speed, and air quality conditions align favorably with prescription constraints.
Current future information on current Kaibab National Forest both upcoming prescribed burn notifications and wildfires will be provided through the following methods:
Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
Overnight lane restrictions tomorrow on I-17 north of Camp Verde
Overnight lane restrictions in place Wednesday north of Camp Verde as crews complete work as part of the Verde River Bridge project.
- Northbound Interstate 17 narrowed to one lane between mileposts 287 and 288 from7 p.m. Wednesday (May 25) to 5 a.m. Thursday (May 26). Please allow extra travel time and be prepared for slowing traffic approaching the work zone.
*A 12-foot width restriction will remain in place. Vehicles more than 12-feet wide should use State Route 260 west to State Route 89A, then north to Sedona, and south on State Route 179 to return to I-17.
ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.
Prescribed Fire Planned for Tusayan Ranger District Friday and Saturday
TUSAYAN — Due to above normal precipitation and cooler temperatures over the last month, conditions on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are within prescriptive levels and are suitable for fire managers to continue treatment of the 8,000-acre Russell Prescribed Fire project southeast of Tusayan.
Crews plan to begin ignitions near the area of Russell Tank and the Arizona Trail beginning Friday and expect to complete a 429-acre unit by the end of the following day. Smoke may be visible from Highways 64 and 180, and from the communities of Valle and Tusayan, but is not expected to impact residential areas.
Fire managers strive to minimize smoke impacts and will only conduct ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to ventilate away from sensitive areas. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast during the day. Residual smoke may settle into drainages and low lying areas overnight but will dissipate rapidly throughout the morning hours. The Arizona Trail will remain open during operations, but hikers are advised to use caution and observe signs and directions posted along the trail.
Notifications of upcoming prescribed burns are provided regularly throughout the season. The public can find this information online or through the recorded hotline. Contact your local Kaibab National Forest office for additional information.
- Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4113/
- Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
- Kaibab website “News and Events”: http://www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Got bonus points? Protect them with “PointGuard”
PHOENIX — All of us know what it feels like to deal with the frustration and disappointment of an unforeseen event. After all, life happens.
That’s why the Arizona Game and Fish Department is excited to announce an innovative new program in “PointGuard,” which essentially will provide hunters with peace of mind in knowing that they can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason without losing their coveted bonus points.
A bonus point is an accumulated credit that authorizes the department to issue an applicant additional computer-generated random numbers during a draw. An applicant accumulates a bonus point each year in which he or she submits a valid application and does not draw a hunt permit-tag. PointGuard ensures that if a successful applicant is unable to participate in a hunt for any reason, the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated.
Here are the requirements:
- PointGuard is available to applicants who apply online for a hunt permit-tag.
- All applicants must sign up for a free AZGFD Portal account to purchase PointGuard (visit www.azgfd.gov, click on the “Sign in to Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the home page, then select the “Create an Account” option).
- PointGuard is $5 per species, per applicant, purchased at the time of completing the online application, or prior to the application period deadline. The fee is non-refundable.
- Only one hunt permit-tag may be surrendered, per species. If an applicant is drawn in the future for that particular species, that hunt-permit tag must be used, expending all accumulated bonus points. Only then may an applicant participate again in PointGuard.
The primary applicant (the person who takes the lead in completing the online application for the other applicants) will be prompted to purchase PointGuard at the time of completing the online application. That primary applicant can purchase PointGuard for each additional applicant who has a verified Portal account. This process must be completed prior to the application period deadline, which is 11:59 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, June 14.
Here is the process to surrender a hunt permit-tag:
- A hunt permit-tag must be surrendered prior to the close of business the day before the start of that particular hunt.
- An applicant who has purchased PointGuard will present the original hunt permit-tag to be surrendered, along with a completed tag surrender application form, in person to any customer service representative at any of the department’s statewide office locations.
- The hunt permit-tag being surrendered and PointGuard purchase will be verified by the department.
- The department will restore all accumulated bonus points for that particular species, including the bonus point the applicant would have accrued if not successful in the draw.
- The hunt permit-tag fee is non-refundable.
A person who donates, or transfers, his or her hunt permit-tag to a qualified nonprofit organization, also can participate in tag surrender, provided the requirements listed above are fulfilled. An acceptable proof of the transfer must be provided to the department (a receipt from the qualified nonprofit organization, for example). The tag surrender application form and an acceptable proof of the hunt permit-tag being donated must be completed within 60 days of the donation, and no less than 30 days before the next application deadline for that particular species.
According to rule (R12-4-118), the department has several options for the reissuance of a surrendered hunt permit-tag. The proximity to the start of a particular hunt, the type of hunt permit-tag, and demand for that hunt permit-tag will factor into how it will be reissued.
For more information, call (602) 942-3000.
Feeding wildlife a “selfish act” that can lead to bigger problems
MESA — A nuisance bear is being sought after repeatedly showing up at the Pioneer Pass campground in the Tonto National Forest. A sub-adult male bear was captured in Parks, Ariz. and had to be relocated. A mountain lion is suspected of killing a Mesa family pet. Javelinas attacked a Fountain Hills resident and her dogs. It’s the time of year when wildlife are on the move, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) cautions people to take steps to reduce wildlife interactions with humans.
“In spring, many wildlife species venture out of the hills looking for new home territories, water and food, and that often brings them into town. People who love wildlife should understand that feeding wild animals puts them in danger,” said Jay Cook, regional supervisor at the AZGFD Mesa office. “When wildlife learn to view humans as a food source, they lose their fear of people, and that can lead to attacks that end badly for both humans and wildlife.”
The problem of wandering wildlife is not confined to Arizona’s rural communities because even Arizona’s biggest cities are surrounded by deserts, forests and riparian areas. Smaller prey animals like ground squirrels, rabbits, mice and birds are also abundant in urban areas, and their presence will attract predators, too. While feeding birds and tree squirrels is legal, some counties have ordinances against feeding other wildlife because of the dangers it can pose to both people and wildlife.
Predators like mountain lions, coyotes and bears are common and abundant in Arizona, and though they are elusive and not always seen, they know that human habitation often signals available food. Arizona Game and Fish advises homeowners to discourage migrating wildlife from staying by eliminating temptations such as outdoor pet food and water dishes, over-full bird feeders that attract rodents, open trash containers and even small pets left outdoors.
It’s equally important to discourage or “haze” predators such as coyotes and mountain lions by making loud noises, waving your arms and throwing things to scare them away. Cook says anything that makes wild animals uncomfortable around humans will help teach them to stay clear.
“It’s a selfish act to put food out to attract wildlife into town for your viewing pleasure,” said Cook. “We want people to think twice before luring wildlife into trouble by feeding them.”
ADEQ Announces Significant Cost Savings for State
PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today significant cost savings for the State of Arizona as part of its most recent accomplishments in support of Governor Douglas A. Ducey’s commitment to efficient, accountable government.
ADEQ made significant changes to its office layouts and overall footprint, which resulted in ADEQ vacating nearly 30,000 square feet of office space at its headquarters location (1110 W. Washington St.) and an entire building previously used by ADEQ’s Vehicle Emissions Inspection (VEI) program near 40th St. and State Route 202 in Phoenix. ADEQ also returned 26 vehicles.
ADEQ’s changes are saving the State of Arizona close to $600,000 in annual rent, are expected to generate income for the State from auction sales of the former VEI property, appraised at approximately $1.5 million, and its returned fleet vehicles. Working in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Administration, the headquarters space now will be rented by other State agencies, creating additional cost savings for Arizona.
Not only have ADEQ’s actions saved money, but as part of its headquarters office re-organization, ADEQ relocated personnel to make sure cross-functional teams are seated together to provide efficient customer service. ADEQ also sent more than 17 tons of paper to be recycled and reduced office equipment expenses.
“At ADEQ we love to reduce waste to the environment AND reduce waste in our operations,” said ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera.