Daily Archives: July 25, 2016

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.

Mountain Biker Dies During Trail Ride

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit recovered the body of a 63-year-old Cornville, AZ resident who died while mountain biking a trail in Fry Canyon.

The Northern Arizona Regional 911 Center received a call around 8:16 am on Sunday July 24, 2106 from a group of mountain bikers advising one of their party had either suffered a medical incident or an injury while riding. Members of the group had started CPR on the victim.

Sheriff’s deputies, along with Guardian Medical and Highlands Fire Department responded to the area and hiked to the victim. Medics performed life saving measures, but were unable to revive the victim, 63-year-old Michael Weinberg. Weinberg was pronounced dead at the scene.

The group of riders had been riding for a distance when they stopped to re-group. After a short stop, the group started to ride again with Weinberg at the back of the group. The group had only ridden five to ten minutes when they realized Weinberg was not there. They headed back up the trail and found Weinberg unresponsive lying on the trail with his bike.

Search and Rescue and fire personnel performed a litter carry to transport Weinberg out to a forest service road. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Visit the High Country Hummingbird Festival at Sipe Wildlife Area on Saturday, July 30

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting its 13th annual High Country Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, July 30 at Sipe Wildlife Area near Springerville/Eagar. This year’s event will help celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal law that has had significant impact on conserving the nation’s migratory bird species. The High Country Hummingbird Festival will be one of the featured events in the state to celebrate this important milestone.

The free, family-friendly festival will include:

  • hummingbird banding by Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO)
  • plant displays for attracting hummingbirds
  • live wildlife from the department’s Wildlife Center
  • wildlife walk with a naturalist
  • activities and talks designed for children
  • informational talks about hummingbirds, and
  • a workshop on photographing hummingbirds.

While the festival is free to the public, the department is asking attendees to consider donating new, unopened bags of pure cane sugar to help feed all of these magnificent birds. Every year, Sipe uses up to 700 pounds of sugar to make the hummingbird food for the feeders around the property. A donation station will be set up in the Visitor’s Center.

The event starts at 8 a.m. and ends at noon. The Sipe Wildlife Area is located southeast of Eagar and Springerville. From Eagar, take Highway 191 toward Alpine for about two miles to the signed turnoff at the top of the first hill. Drive south five miles to the Sipe property on a gravel road suitable for passenger cars.

The Round Valley Chamber of Commerce will be providing breakfast items and lunch concessions for purchase.

Pets must be kept on leash and are not allowed near live wildlife.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/hummingbird.shtml, follow this event and other local wildlife recreation-related events and programs on the Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop Region Facebook page, or call the Game and Fish office in Pinetop at (928) 532-3680.

Point Wildfire is currently burning in Munds Mountain Wilderness

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sedona-point-fire-1SEDONA — The lightning-caused Point Wildfire is currently burning in Munds Mountain Wilderness on Munds mesa, which is located east of State Highway 179 and south of Sedona and Schnebly Hill road.

The fire is estimated at 190 acres and was ignited following several lighting storms that came through the area mid-week.

“Today we are focusing on stopping the northern progression of the wildfire,” said Nicole Branton, Red Rock District ranger. “This fire is in very difficult terrain that is dangerous to firefighting personnel, so we can expect to see smoke over the next several days as it continues to burn in areas that firefighters cannot access. Firefighter safety is our primary concern along with containing the fire on top of the mesa to prevent further spread into surrounding canyons.”

Smoke will also be visible from various parts of the Verde Valley and along Interstate 17 while firefighters work to contain the fire over the next few days.

Air attack helicopters and planes along with 55 firefighters are working to help slow progress across the mesa and to reduce its chance of moving into side canyons. Drones cannot be flown over or near the fire, as doing so will cease operations that are fighting the fire with water drops from the air.

For public and fire fighter safety, the public is asked to acknowledge the closure area of Munds Mountain Trail and Jack Canyon Trail.