Buckskinner Trail in Williams.
The monsoon rains have filled tanks and holes around the forested areas and, no doubt, buckets and pots around your homes. There is not a lot you can do about the water in the forest and in drainage areas, you can take steps around your home. Empty out tires, pots and other vessels that collect water around your yard. If you are growing a garden, you can empty them out there. 
Flagstaff drivers should plan for delays on eastbound Interstate 40 at Interstate 17 on Saturday, July 21, between 5 and 10 a.m. while crews complete emergency pothole repairs. Eastbound I-40 will be closed at I-17 while repair work is underway. Drivers will be detoured onto southbound I-17 to J.W. Powell Boulevard to exit and re-enter northbound I-17 to eastbound I-40.
Construction crews are currently repairing and replacing bridge decks on four I-40 bridges that carry traffic over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard with a lane closure through the work zone. The potholes developed in the open lane, due in part to recent heavy rains, and require the interstate closure to make the necessary repairs.
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is collaborating with the White Mountain Lakes Foundation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to address chronic and long-term water-quality issues at Luna Lake near Alpine.
The ongoing project could eventually include other lakes located on the national forest: Carnero Lake, Lee Valley Lake and Crescent Lake.
– AZGF Photo
“Once started, installation of the aeration system at Luna should be finished in only a few months,” said Dave Weedman, AZGFD Aquatic Habitat Program Manager. “Luna Lake is the most cost-effective option because it is more easily accessible during the winter for maintenance than the other three lakes, and we have numerous partners in the area that will assist in the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.”
Successful project implementation will require collaboration between the AZGFD and Alpine Ranger District on the environmental compliance (NEPA) for beginning construction on the infrastructure. Both agencies have committed to begin the NEPA process immediately.
AZGFD biologists are monitoring water quality at all four lakes in an attempt to identify the causes for the water quality problems. Each of these lakes has periodically suffered from winter or summer fish die-offs as a result of poor water quality, low dissolved oxygen (DO) in the winter or excessively high pH in the summer. AZGFD has already solicited plans for installation of aerators to address low oxygen during the winters, and is pursuing the needed environmental clearances to pave the way for installation and operation of the equipment.
Each of these lakes is different and will require a multi-faceted approach to address the water quality causes for the fish die-offs.
For example:
AZGFD thanks numerous partners for their local and vocal support: Sportsmen for Wildlife, Alpine Alliance, Trout Unlimited, Arizona Flycasters Club, The Desert Fly Casters of Chandler, White Mountain Fly Fishing Club, Friends of Luna Lake and the White Mountain Lakes Foundation.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County will lift fire restrictions above the North Rim of the Grand Canyon effective immediately. This region received significant moisture during the last week, decreasing fire risk.
Currently, there are no fire restrictions in any area of the County. However, several areas in the region may have received less precipitation, causing fire danger to be higher in some locations. Residents and visitors are asked to use caution when using equipment or items that can spark a fire. They are also asked to extinguish all campfires, operate ATVS and motorcycles with spark arrestors and to use caution when operating barbeque grills. Residents and visitors are reminded they can be legally responsible for causing wildfires.
A link to the full Wildfire Defense Ordinance can be found at www.coconino.az.gov/ready.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County has activated an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) to coordinate emergency response operations due to heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding this afternoon in the Schultz Flood area.
County Public Works crews closed Brandis Way due to significant water over the roadway. Debris obstructed one of the culverts, diverting water and debris onto the road and rendering it impassable. Public Works has crews on scene and has begun assessment of the damage and clean-up will commence as soon as it’s safe to enter.
Residents of Brandis Way will not be able to access their homes. The American Red Cross has set-up an evacuation center at Cromer Elementary at 7150 Silver Saddle Rd, Flagstaff.
Several other roads north of Copeland Lane have received flood damage and the County is monitoring that area as well. There is also a report of water in at least one home.
Public Works has a crew on scene and will begin assessment and clean-up of debris as soon as it is safe to enter.
A call center has been opened for people impacted by these closures and in the area to call with questions (928)213-2990.
FLAGSTAFF — On Monday, July 16 at approximately 7:00 pm multiple agencies responded to rescue an injured hiker at Grand Falls. The 18-year-old female hiker from Flagstaff had descended a route on the west side of Grand Falls with a group. While scrambling out, a hand hold that she was using broke loose causing her to fall approximately 30 feet. The hiker sustained non-life-threatening injuries but was unable to climb out of the area on her own.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office-Search and Rescue Unit, Summit Fire District, Flagstaff Fire Department, Navajo Nation Fire Department, Navajo Nation Police Department, and Arizona Department of Public Safety Northern Air Rescue responded. A Heli-Rescue Technician from the Flagstaff Fire Department boarded the Arizona DPS Air Rescue helicopter and flew to the accident site. The helicopter performed a one-skid landing to allow the crew to access the hiker. The crew carried her back to the helicopter for transport to the parking area. DPS Air Rescue with an additional paramedic from Summit Fire District on board flew the hiker to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind visitors to the Grand Falls area that there may be elevated flows due to the monsoon rains that can make hiking to the base of the falls hazardous. Hikers should be prepared for the conditions and be prepared to change their plans if the conditions do not seem conducive to the activity they planned.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all of the agencies that responded to this incident. The team work and relationships between the public safety agencies contributed to the successful outcome of this call.
PHOENIX – Scientists involved in Mexican wolf recovery say environmental groups distributing old and faulty data that calls for the release of captive adult wolves are not helping the recovery of the endangered subspecies. Biologists at the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) say maintaining a savvy wild-born population and limiting introductions of naïve captive-raised adult animals have been the keys to the ongoing success of the recovery program.
“This period of strong population growth has happened with almost the entire population being wild- born wolves,” said Jim Heffelfinger, a University of Arizona research scientist, AZGFD wildlife science coordinator and co-author of multiple peer-reviewed scientific studies on wolf recovery. “We’ve also learned that releasing captive singles and pairs that have spent their lives in a zoo setting has been ineffective in enhancing genetic diversity. The sobering truth is that in the last decade, no captive-raised adult wolf released in the wild has subsequently raised pups in the wild to contribute to the gene pool.”
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and other environmental fundraising organizations have been pushing a narrative that captive-raised adult wolves should be released into the wild. A July 12 news release from the groups called for the release of three packs of zoo-raised wolves. The piece also misstated the number of wolves already released and omitted an entire year of successful cross-fostering data from their analysis.
Contrary to the incorrect information issued by these organizations, AZGFD and its conservation partners have released 20 wolves from captivity since 2014 through “cross-fostering,” or selectively placing genetically valuable pups from captivity into wild packs to be raised by wild parents and with wild siblings. The latest wolf survey (2017) documented an all-time record number of 114 Mexican wolves in 22 packs, with 26 potential breeding pairs and 88 adult wolves in the wild population.
Of a potential eight cross-fostered wolves that are now of breeding age, three have bred and two have already produced offspring (four pups), meaning about 37.5 percent of cross-fostered pups are contributing valuable genetics to the wild population. Of the 12 pups cross-fostered between 2014 and 2017, five were found to have survived to the end of the year, a much higher survival rate than the groups assert. In contrast, only one of the last nine adult captive wolves released into the wild produced pups that survived more than one year, and only because the pups were cross-fostered into a wild pack.
Despite the CBD’s assertion that releasing packs of naïve captive-raised wolves is “badly needed to improve numbers and enhance genetic diversity,” an honest look at the data clearly shows that the recovering Mexican wolf population can grow in numbers without additional releases of adult wolves. Only five adult captive-raised wolves have been released since 2007, yet the wild Mexican wolf population has increased from 42 in 2009 to 114 in 2017 (171 percent).
According to Jim deVos, assistant director for AZGFD’s Wildlife Management Division, cross-fostering bolsters genetic diversity in the wild population while protecting genetically valuable adults in captivity.
“It’s important to review Mexican wolf recovery based on data and not misleading and disingenuous statements that hide the real success of this recovery program,” said deVos. “The population is growing very well without releasing more zoo animals into the woods to fend for themselves. It is counter- productive to use purposely misleading and erroneous statements to oppose these successes and the hard working people bringing the Mexican wolf back to the Southwestern landscape.”
Flagstaff drivers should prepare for traffic impacts including lane restrictions and full closures while crews continue bridge work at Interstate 40 and Beulah Boulevard. Crews are scheduled to pour a new eastbound I-40 bridge deck over Beulah Boulevard.
One-direction overnight closures of Beulah Boulevard are scheduled for the following times:
Southbound Beulah will be closed from 9 p.m., Friday, July 20, through 1 a.m., Saturday, July 21. The southbound Beulah Boulevard detour route takes drivers north to Forest Meadows Street, east to I-17 and south onto southbound I-17 to the J.W. Powell/I-17 Interchange, then north on Beulah Boulevard.
Northbound Beulah will be closed from 12:01 to 7 a.m., Saturday, July 21. The northbound Beulah Boulevard detour route takes drivers southbound to the J.W. Powell/ I-17 Interchange and then north on I-17 to Forest Meadows Street, then west to Beulah Boulevard.
In addition, the following restrictions are in place:
I-17 is reduced to one lane in both directions through Tuesday, July 17.
Interstate 40 is reduced to one lane in both directions through August.
The northbound I-17 to westbound I-40 ramp remains closed for the duration of the project. Traffic that would normally use this ramp is being detoured onto I-40 eastbound, then exiting at Butler Avenue and heading west on I-40.
Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.
For more information, visit the project website. For questions or comments, call Mackenzie Kirby, ADOT Community Relations project manager at 928.525.6494 or email mkirby@azdot.gov.
Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.
Arizona Game and Fish Photo
The allocation is part of an initiative by Department of Interior Secretary Zinke called, “Safeguarding the West: Actions to Strengthen Federal, State, and Tribal Coordination to Address Invasive Mussels.”
Arizona was among the first western states to have an introduction of the invasive mussels following their 2007 discovery in Lake Mead.
“This money will be a tremendous help to our program,” said Erin Raney, AZGFD Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. “Containing the spread of invasive mussels is costly, but worthwhile in the long run. We just haven’t had the resources to properly address the issue in Arizona before now.”
Quagga and zebra mussels can cause extensive damage to ecosystems and fisheries, contribute to poor water quality and algae blooms and cost millions of dollars to taxpayers in managing clogged water and power infrastructure when the mussels attach inside of raw water pipes. Many waters in Arizona and a majority of western states still do not have established populations of invasive mussels.
“We want to keep it that way,” Raney said. “These are our last uninfested watersheds in the United States. Impacts to the ecology and economy of the entire region will be huge if these mussels are spread to uninfested waters. We want to be good neighbors and do our part to protect these remaining watersheds, while protecting our boating and recreation opportunities.”
Money allocated to Arizona will be used to support existing and future efforts to increase watercraft inspections and decontamination locations throughout the state and to bolster enforcement efforts. Watercraft inspections and decontaminations reduce the risk of spreading quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species (AIS). Having a seal and receipt documenting a certified inspection can help decrease wait times at inspection locations, and reduce the risk of costly citations or impoundment of watercraft for transporting AIS.
“We are already working with local, state, interstate and federal partners, as well as private industry to build our program and provide more inspection and decontamination opportunities for boaters,” Raney said. “We hope that by expanding services, we will get better compliance. It’s a big job, but with everybody pitching in, we can stop their spread.”
WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest has implemented a temporary closure of Forest Road 149 near Kendrick Mountain on the Williams Ranger District due to safety concerns related to the active monsoon season.
Forest Road 149, which is located in the far northeastern corner of the Williams Ranger District just east of Pumpkin Center, accesses the Pumpkin Trailhead on Kendrick Mountain. Due to the risk of flooding and the associated public safety concerns, the road has been temporarily closed and will remain so until monsoon conditions subside.
Barricades are installed at the entry to the road. No driving or parking along Forest Road 149 will be allowed until the closure is lifted. While the Pumpkin Trail itself is not closed, forest managers recommend use of either the Kendrick Mountain or Bull Basin trails while the closure of Forest Road 149 is in effect due to the lack of trailhead parking. Visitors to Pumpkin Trail could also find alternative parking along open forest roads and hike into the trail, although this could add significantly to overall hiking distance.
Due to a severe lack of winter moisture, there was very little growth of grasses and plants in the area of the 2017 Boundary Fire on Kendrick Mountain, making for potentially unstable conditions during heavy monsoonal rains. Because of that, there is an increased risk of flooding in the area, with Forest Road 149 being particularly vulnerable.
Besides temporarily closing Forest Road 149, Kaibab National Forest managers also advise visitors to the Kendrick Mountain area to have heightened awareness about potential safety hazards and exercise increased vigilance regarding personal safety, especially during rain events.
“After any fire, there is a need to recognize that the landscape is still stabilizing itself, especially in the immediate post-fire period and during monsoon conditions such as those we are experiencing now,” said Micah Kiesow, soil scientist for the Kaibab National Forest. “While the Kendrick Mountain area and its trails are open to public use except for Forest Road 149, it is still important to understand that hazards can exist. We ask visitors to be aware of their surroundings when recreating in the forest, especially in areas that have been impacted by wildfire in recent years.”
Potential risks in any area recently burned by wildfire include the following:
Visitors to the Kendrick Mountain area are advised to follow these outdoor safety best practices:
Know where you are in relation to drainages.
For more information about the Kaibab National Forest, reference the following sources:
Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF