Daily Archives: September 21, 2016

Partnership between ADOT, tribe will improve safety along SR 260

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, White Mountain Apache Tribe and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs are working together to remove trees considered hazards along the State Route 260 right of way through the eastern Arizona reservation.

In addition to reducing the risk of trees falling on the roadway between McNary (milepost 361) and State Route 273 (milepost 378), the project will reduce the accumulation of snow and ice during the winter by allowing more sunlight to reach the pavement. It also will make it less likely that vehicles leaving the highway will hit trees.

The work, which is currently underway and scheduled to last through Oct. 8, requires lane closures and the use of a pilot car between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and watch out for equipment and workers.

White Mountain Apache Timber Co. arranged for a contractor to cut the trees within 30 feet of the roadway, as called for by Federal Highway Administration guidelines. ADOT is providing traffic control, and the tribe will be able to use the trees for lumber and firewood.

North Zone Rx: Dry Park 422E successful

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FREDONIA — North Zone fire managers successfully completed a test fire today on the Dry Park 422E Unit and resumed operations on the 1,226-acre prescribed fire unit today, which is located on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

With conditions similar to yesterday, resources were able to use aerial ignitions across the unit and complete approximately 1,119 acres. Unlike hand ignitions, which can be very time consuming depending on terrain, fuel loading and fire behavior, aerial ignitions dramatically decrease the time needed to put fire on the ground. This firing technique provides the fire with a greater window of time to ventilate smoke so transport winds disperse the smoke before evening temperatures start to cool the area.

Based on the successful completion of the Dry Park 422E Unit, fire managers anticipate initiating hand ignitions on the 1,806-acre Jacob Ryan Bridge Unit as early as tomorrow.

Looking ahead for the next few weeks, fire managers continue tracking conditions for opportunities to pursue prescribed fire operations on the Tipover East Unit and Lobo Unit.

The total Tipover East Unit is 10,296 acres in size, but the entire project area will not be burned at once. Fire managers have divided the project area into separate burn units that will be treated over the next 3 to 5 years, focusing on approximately 3,000 acres for this season. The total Lobo Unit is approximately 2,100 acres.

In the interest of safety, forest visitors are reminded to obey all traffic signs and use caution when traveling in the vicinity of the prescribed fire burn units as firefighters and fire-related traffic will be in the area. Smoke is expected to be visible from Highway 89A, Highway 67, Marble Canyon and other high-use visitor areas; however, fire managers will strive to minimize smoke impacts to the community as much as possible. Smoke is expected to disperse during the daytime, but residual smoke may settle into drainages and low-lying areas overnight. However, it is expected to dissipate quickly as fire managers will only commence ignitions when conditions exist that will allow smoke to adequately ventilate.

As a reminder, implementation of prescribed fires is dependent on weather and fuel conditions including winds, temperature, humidity, moisture of the vegetation and ventilation conditions for dispersal of smoke, as well as, prior coordination with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorized on any given day, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Wet weather expected to continue until Friday

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The remnants of hurricane Paine push moisture into the area.

The remnants of hurricane Paine push moisture into the area.

WILLIAMS — The approaching fall season was met with wet weather. The front will bring possible thunderstorms to Williams, Flagstaff and the surrounding area.

The weather service reports that a cold front approaching from the north will bring windy conditions to many areas on Thursday. This front will bring more showers and thunderstorms to mainly northern and western sections of the state. Some storms near the Utah border and in western Coconino county may become severe.

Briefly colder conditions will arrive behind the front Friday. Drier and warmer weather will develop over the coming weekend and into early next week.

Williams City Council meeting tomorrow

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williams-city-logoWILLIAMS — The Council meeting will begin with the public comment section. Citizens are given five minutes to speak unless they receive prior approval for additional time. A registered spokesperson for a recognized community organization shall be afforded ten minutes provided other members of the same organization agree before hand to withhold their individual comments on the same subject. The Council members cannot act upon the items, but may respond to criticism. They may put the item on a future agenda.

Other items to be discussed by the council include:

  1. Canvass of Votes for primary election held August 30, 2016, and possible approval of Resolution #1336, adopting the results. P. Galvan
  2. Discussion and possible decision regarding a request from the Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation to waive all fees related to the development of the museum project.: A. Richmond
  3. Discussion of reorganization of Clean and Beautiful.: C. Glassburn
  4. Discussion regarding proposed inter-governmental agreement with Coconino County for Emergency Management Services, and partnership for Code Red community notification system.: Chief Nixon/S. Miller
  5. Council will discuss and may decide to execute a contract between the City of Williams and Chad Thomas for airport coordinator services.: S. Miller
  6. Discussion and decision giving authorization to the City Manager to procure internet service with Hospitality Wireless.: S. Miller

Nighttime paving at Milton Road and Plaza Way intersection in Flagstaff on Thursday

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FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be paving the intersection of south Milton Road and Plaza Way from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Thursday (Sept. 22).

During paving, access on Plaza Way will be closed along with one lane of southbound travel on Milton Road. Detours will be in place at Yale Avenue and University Drive, please watch for signage and reduced speeds in the area.

Expect delays during paving. Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction equipment and personnel.

For more information about this project, please call Coralie Cole, ADOT Senior Community Relations Officer at 602.501.4899 or email ccole@azdot.gov .

North Kaibab and Tusayan Ranger District fuelwood permits to be available in Bodaway/Gap and Cameron chapters

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will issue free-use, paid personal-use and ceremonial fuelwood permits for the North Kaibab Ranger District at the Bodaway/Gap Chapter House on Sept. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. DST.

The Kaibab National Forest will also issue free-use, paid personal-use and ceremonial fuelwood permits for the Tusayan Ranger District at the Huskie Arena during the Cameron Community Celebration on Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. MST.

Besides the Sept. 24 and Oct. 14 chapter opportunities, fuelwood permits are also regularly available at the following Kaibab National Forest locations:

  • Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
  • Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Grand Canyon; Mondays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; (928) 638-2443
  • North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 643-7395

A permit must be acquired by anyone harvesting any fuelwood on the Kaibab National Forest, except for the rather small amounts used in a campfire and gathered at the campfire site. The 2016 firewood cutting season runs from April 15 to Dec. 31 for the Williams and Tusayan districts and from May 2 to Nov. 30 for the North Kaibab district.

The minimum cost for a personal use fuelwood permit is $20, which is good for four cords of wood. Free-use permits are available for specific areas on the forest. Individuals seeking free-use permits should check with the appropriate ranger district office for availability, locations and other information. The Kaibab National Forest also has a collection policy for providing free forest products to Native Americans for traditional and cultural uses.

All permits issued will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest.

The removal of fuelwood is permitted only from National Forest lands on the district for which the permit is issued. Fuelwood cutters are reminded to take note of property boundaries and cut only on National Forest lands.

Fuelwood cutters should be aware that chainsaws can throw sparks and ignite grasses and brush. Always carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher or water in case of a fire start. Additionally, all chainsaws must be equipped with a stainless steel spark arrestor screen.

ADOT continuous improvement yields much faster way to fill a water tank

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show-low-truck2SHOW LOW — An initiative that has reduced wait times at Motor Vehicle Division offices is one of the big results of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s commitment to continuous improvement. But even finding a better way to fill a water tank used for treating roadside weeds is helping ADOT provide better service for Arizonans.

Examining their processes and how to improve them, Show Low-based maintenance workers noted that it took 45 minutes to refill the 300-gallon water tank on their truck when they were spraying for weeds. It also involved driving back to the maintenance yard for refills because the three-quarter-inch connector was designed for a garden hose.

Creating a new 2-inch connector out of PVC pipe now allows them to fill the tank in about 10 minutes. Because of the new connector, they also can also refill the tank from a water truck or fire hydrant without having to drive back the maintenance yard.

The result: less time needed to treat weeds along highways and more time available to tend to other maintenance needs in the Show Low area.

All four herbicide trucks used by maintenance crews in ADOT’s Northeastern District now have the refilling system.

It’s one more way continuous improvement is helping ADOT increase its value to Arizona by making more efficient use of time, resources and taxpayer dollars.

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of endangered California condors in Arizona at a public release on Sept. 24

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condorPHOENIX — Endangered California condors will be released to the wild in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. The public is welcome to observe the release from a viewing area where spotting scopes will be set up, and experts will be available to answer questions.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the reintroduction of condors to Arizona. In December 1996, six captive-bred condors were released. It was the first time condors had been seen in the state since the early 1900s. Now more than 73 condors fly free in the Grand Canyon region and southern Utah.

“Arizona is recognized as a national leader in wildlife conservation, as the California condor reintroduction project demonstrates,” said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. “This is another great example of the Arizona Game and Fish Department forging successful ‘boots-on-the-ground’ conservation partnerships for the benefit of all Arizona wildlife.”

The release also coincides with National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands.

The world’s total population of California condors is 430, with more than half gracing the skies of Arizona, Utah, California and Mexico. Condors were reduced to just 22 individuals in the 1980s when a program was started to save the species from extinction.

“The department began discussing the possibility of reintroducing endangered California condors in 1985. It’s amazing to now see more than 70 birds flying free in northern Arizona-southern Utah, and the success of our adaptive management efforts along the way,” said Larry Voyles, director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Condors are hatched and reared in captivity at The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Idaho, Oregon Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park and transported to Arizona for release to the wild.

Recovery and reintroduction cooperators include The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kaibab and Dixie national forests.

To view the condor release, drive north on Highway 89 out of Flagstaff. Turn left (west) onto Highway 89A toward Jacob Lake and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Drive about 40 miles past Marble Canyon until you turn right onto House Rock Valley Road (BLM Road 1065). Travel about three miles to a shaded viewing area on the right. On top of the cliffs to your east will be the location where the condors are released.

Condors have been federally listed as endangered since 1967. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 1/2 feet.

Volunteers needed for Mule Deer Foundation project Oct. 1-2

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WICKENBURG — The Mule Deer Foundation’s Arizona Southwest Chapter is seeking volunteers Oct. 1-2 for a water distribution project at Date Creek Ranch, north of Wickenburg.

Date Creek Ranch is a 38,000-plus-acre working cattle ranch in Game Management Units 20C and 44A. Like many ranches in the Southwest, it faces water distribution challenges to some of the farthest reaches of its lease. A helicopter with a longline will be used to place several water-storage tanks and necessary pipelines throughout the property to benefit the cattle and resident wildlife.

A planning meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 30. There is a need for some volunteers who can depart from ranch headquarters as early as 5 a.m. Oct. 1, in order to be at various sites to receive the water-storage tanks from the helicopter crew. All volunteers are welcome any time Oct. 1-2. It is not mandatory to attend the planning meeting, or be available by 5 a.m. Oct. 1, to volunteer. No experience is necessary.

For more information, or to R,S.V.P., contact: Doug Clark, (623) 293-2371; Jeff Thurman, (623) 293-1727; Jim Lawrence, (623) 764-0249.

Camping is available (no recreational vehicle hookups) between U.S. Highway 93 and ranch headquarters. The project location is just north of highway milepost 178 (for a map, visit https://goo.gl/maps/FyVNdXHWKUt).

The foundation and Date Creek Ranch were brought together through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s “Adopt-A-Ranch” program. Through this program, the foundation and AZGFD will be assisting the ranch in completing mutually beneficial projects.

Wildfire forces extended lane restriction east of Payson

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PHOENIX — An extended lane closure is in place on eastbound State Route 260 about 30 miles east of Payson because of the Fulton Fire, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The right lane of eastbound SR 260 will remain closed between mileposts 279 and 282, near Young Road, while crews continue to fight the fire.

There is no estimated time to reopen the right lane. Drivers may experience delays in the area and should allow extra travel time. In addition, smoke may limit visibility on SR 260.

Information on active fires is available through the Arizona Division of Emergency Management at azein.gov. For the most current information about highway closures and restrictions statewide, visit ADOT’s Travel Information Site at az511.gov or call 511.