Daily Archives: June 19, 2016

USFWS withdraws draft Recreational Boating Compatibility Determination for Havasu Wildlife Refuge, citing need for further deliberation

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usfwsLAKE HAVASU CITY — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has withdrawn its draft Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Recreational Boating Compatibility Determination (CD) for further consideration and deliberation.

According to a June 16 USFWS news release, the Service received and reviewed a substantial number of comments during the formal comment period seeking reconsideration of the draft CD. Sen. John McCain and Rep. Paul Gosar requested the draft be withdrawn.

“After reflecting on input we received at public meetings and the great numbers of letters and comments submitted, I have reached the conclusion that more communication is needed before any additional changes are introduced at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge,” said Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, USFWS southwest regional director, in the news release. “I have decided to withdraw the current draft CD at this time to allow for further discussions with the community and other stakeholders.”

“We’re appreciative that Director Tuggle changed course and that the USFWS recognized the need for a more robust public comment and community engagement process regarding this important issue,” said Kurt R. Davis, chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. “A much broader base of public input than originally was sought is vital in determining the best plan to protect the local economy, recreational opportunity and wildlife conservation.”

The USFWS news release stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will provide the framework for ongoing dialogue with the community and interested parties. A representative from the Service’s Southwest Regional Office will lead the coordination effort with city officials and other vested parties and develop possible collaborative measures that ensure natural resource conservation is managed consistently with compatible recreational uses. This coordination will provide the foundation for the Service to develop a revised draft CD to share with the public.

AZGFD supportive of Grand Canyon report listing bison as native wildlife

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Buffalo/BisonThe Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) supports the findings of a National Park Service report that considers a herd of 600 bison on the Grand Canyon National Park as native wildlife.

The report involved a collaborative review of National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and AZGFD laws and policies to help guide Grand Canyon park officials in future bison management planning. A key finding of the scientifically reviewed report is that the bison living in northern Arizona are native wildlife within the long-term continental home range of the American bison.

“The Department is pleased with the conclusions in the report,” said Craig McMullen, supervisor for the department’s regional office in Flagstaff. “The bison are a valuable native component of the experience for visitors to the Kaibab Plateau, but there are too many right now. The ultimate goal is to manage this important bison population at appropriate levels for the enjoyment, appreciation and use by the public.”

The report also concluded that:

(1) Existing law and policies allow Grand Canyon National Park officials to include the presence of bison in long term management plans.
(2) Public lands on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and the Kaibab National Forest are suitable for cooperative bison management with agencies such as AZGFD.
(3) The bison population must be reduced by several hundred animals to mitigate the ongoing damage to habitat, as well as to cultural and archaeological sites within the Grand Canyon.

The report comes as Congressional lawmakers consider a pair of bi-partisan bills that direct the U.S. Department of Interior and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to coordinate on a plan that allows the state’s sportsmen with valid, state-issued hunting licenses to assist in managing the bison population.

(SEE S.782, John McCain & H.R. 1443, Paul Gosar. The National Bison Legacy Act, H.R. 2908 became law on May 9 making the Bison the nation mammal of the United States.)

The bills are supported by the Commission and were introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake; and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Paul Gosar. The House bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, Kyrsten Sinema, Matt Salmon, David Schweikert and Trent Franks.

Download a copy of the full report

Arizona Game and Fish to consider proposed fishing regulation changes

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Fishing_Lees_Ferry_webPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is proposing changes to Commission Order 40 (fishing regulations) to be considered by the Game and Fish Commission at its August meeting in Pinetop.

The department encourages the public to review the proposed changes (PDF: Click Here) and email comments to: fishregscomments@azgfd.gov.

The public also can provide comments at one of the following public meetings at which AZGFD will present the proposed changes:

  • Tucson: Tuesday, June 28, 6 p.m., Tucson Regional Office, 555 N. Greasewood Rd.
  • Flagstaff: Wednesday, July 6, 7 p.m., Flagstaff Regional Office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Rd.
  • Yuma: Wednesday, July 6, 7 p.m. American Legion, 2575 S. Virginia Dr.
  • Phoenix: Tuesday, July 12, AZGFD headquarters, Quail Room, 6 p.m., 5000 West Carefree Highway
  • Mesa: Monday, July 13, 6 p.m., Mesa Regional Office, 7200 E. University.
  • Pinetop: Wednesday, July 20, 7 p.m., Timber Mesa Fire Station No. 13, 2922 W. White Mountain Blvd, Lakeside.

State Transportation Board approves 2017-2021 Five-Year Construction Program

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation’s five-year construction program for state highways promotes commerce through investments in major freight and travel corridors, supports Greater Arizona through key projects and highlights the agency’s commitment to not only maintaining but improving the quality of pavement, bridges and other infrastructure.

Meeting Friday in Holbrook, the State Transportation Board voted to adopt the agency’s 2017-2021 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program, which determines projects in Greater Arizona, the Maricopa County region and the Pima County region that will receive funding during the period.

“Major freight corridors that connect Arizona to Mexico and large neighboring U.S. markets will benefit from key expansion projects in this Five-Year Program,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Improvement projects along some of Arizona’s busiest corridors will not only provide better mobility but help enhance trade, commerce and economic development. Meanwhile, we are protecting Arizona’s $20 billion investment in highways and answering Governor Doug Ducey’s call to continuously improve our value to this state.”

Because of additional funding available through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, ADOT will be able to move forward on a quicker timeline with four major projects that will improve key commerce corridors: widening Interstate 10 in Pinal County from State Route 87 to Picacho and from Earley Road to Interstate 8, and widening two stretches of US 93 between Wickenburg and Interstate 40.

Once the two I-10 projects are complete, ADOT will have reached its goal of widening the entire stretch of I-10 between Casa Grande and Tucson to a six-lane divided highway.

Other projects programmed for funding include improving State Route 189 in Nogales to enhance the flow of commerce between the port of entry and Interstate 19.

A long-sought railroad overpass on State Route 347 in Maricopa will move forward thanks to a $15 million federal TIGER grant and $15 million local contribution in addition to ADOT’s $19 million commitment.

Facing growing needs and limited transportation funding from traditional sources, ADOT remains committed to preserving the existing state highway system. The program approved Friday meets the agency’s goal of $260 million per year dedicated to preservation.

That funding supports two of ADOT’s key performance indicators under Governor Ducey’s call for continuous improvement among state agencies:

  • Bridges: ADOT strives to keep the percentage of highway bridges rated in good or fair condition at 95 percent or more.
  • Pavement: ADOT aims to increase interstate highway rated in good condition from 73 percent to 80 percent as measured by smoothness.

The State Transportation Board’s approval of the Five-Year Program, which is updated annually, followed a call for public comment in March and three public hearings. In general, projects begin as part of the agency’s long-range visioning process, move into a 20-year plan and a six- to 10-year development program and then become part of the Five-Year Program, which is developed by working closely with local planning organizations and community leaders to identify projects that are ready to build or design.

Funding for the Five-Year Program is generated by the users of transportation services, primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and the vehicle license tax. Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases that allow for more expansion projects to take place.

The following is a list of major projects for Greater Arizona, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) region and the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) region during the 2017-2021 Five-Year Program. This list provides an overview and does not include all projects in the Five-Year Program. The 2017-2021 Five-Year Program will be published next week at azdot.gov.

Greater Arizona

  • State Route 189, Nogales to Interstate 19: Total project cost is estimated at $70 million. ADOT is moving forward with these improvements along SR 189 to ensure international commerce can efficiently and safely travel between Arizona and Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry, one of the busiest land ports in the United States.
  • State Route 347 Railroad Overpass: This project will alleviate traffic backups at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Maricopa by replacing the existing at-grade intersection with an overpass on SR 347. The SR 347 project received a $15 million federal TIGER grant and a $15 million local contribution to add to ADOT’s $19 million commitment to construct the project starting in FY 2017.
  • Interstate 10: State Route 87 to Picacho: This $85 million project to start in FY 2018 will widen the highway to three lanes in each direction and improve traffic interchanges.
  • Interstate 10: Earley Road to Interstate 8: This $40 million project in FY 2019 will widen the highway to three lanes in each direction and improve traffic interchanges south of Casa Grande.
  • US 93: “The Gap” Tegner Drive to State Route 89: This project, which will widen a three-mile stretch of US 93 near Wickenburg to a four-lane divided highway, will be funded in phases.
  • State Route 89: State Route 89A to Deep Well Ranch Road: $15 million allocated in FY 2017 for a corridor widening project that will improve capacity, operations and safety near Prescott. The roadway will be widened from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway.
  • US 60: Show Low to 40th Street: $7 million allocated in FY 2017 to add turn lanes, widen the roadway and improve intersections.
  • US 93: Carrow to Stephens: $35.5 million allocated in FY 2021 to widen this three-mile section of US 93 north of Wikieup. This project is part of ADOT’s commitment to convert all of US 93 to a modern, four-lane divided highway.

Pima County region

  • Interstate 10: Ina Road traffic interchange: $93 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2018 to fully reconstruct the Ina Road traffic interchange in Tucson. Interstate 10 currently passes over Ina Road, and with this project Ina Road will be elevated and pass over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad. The existing frontage roads and ramps will also be reconstructed.
  • Interstate 10: Houghton Road traffic interchange: A total of $46 million is allocated in FY 2017, FY 2020 and FY 2021 for this construction project.
  • Interstate 10: Ruthrauff Road traffic interchange: $106 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2020 for this reconstruction project.
  • Interstate 10: Country Club Road traffic interchange: $21 million allocated from FY 2019 to FY 2021 for this construction project.
  • Interstate 19: Ajo Way traffic interchange: $30 million allocated from FY 2018 to FY 2019 for Phase II of this reconstruction project.

Maricopa County region

  • Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway: $973 million allocated from FY 2017 to FY 2019 for construction of the 22-mile-long freeway scheduled to begin later this year.
  • Interstate 10: 32nd Street near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the Loop 202 Santan Freeway in Chandler: $324 million allocated from FY 2019 to FY 2021 for widening and other improvements. This project includes improvements at the Broadway Curve to help traffic flow more efficiently.
  • Interstate 10: Loop 202 Santan to Riggs Road: $74 million allocated from FY 2019 to FY 2021 for the construction of a general purpose lane and an HOV lane in each direction within this six-mile stretch.
  • Loop 101 Pima Freeway: State Route 51 to Princess Drive: $61 million allocated in FY 2021 for the construction of a general purpose lane in each direction within a six-mile stretch.
  • Loop 101 Pima Freeway: Princess Drive to Shea Boulevard: $53 million allocated in FY 2021 for the construction of a general purpose lane in each direction within a six-mile stretch.