Daily Archives: November 8, 2018

Prescribed Burning to continue on Kaibab National Forest beginning Friday

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WILLIAMS — Fuels reduction efforts will be continuing on both the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts beginning Friday of this week. Both districts will be conducting broadcast burns that could extend over the next several days as environmental and weather conditions permit.

The 12,000 acre Sunflower Prescribed Fire Project located approximately 8 miles southeast of Williams has been ongoing over the past year with nearly 7000 acres successfully treated to date. Aerial ignitions will continue as crews work toward completing the remaining 5000 acres on this project.Fire managers will also ignite a 245 acre unit approximately 3 miles south of Tusayan on the Reed Prescribed Fire Project beginning Friday and may treat an additional 354 acres just west of the town over the weekend ahead.

Opportunities to use prescribed fire to accomplish forest restoration objectives only exist during specific times of the year. Environmental conditions in the forest as well as precise weather patterns determine when these opportunities arise. The fall months usually present the most favorable time of year to achieve the most desirable effects for successful treatments.

During prescribed firing operations, campers and hunters are asked to avoid establishing campsites near the fire activity and seek alternative sites away from active burn areas.

Northeast winds are forecasted for several days as these burns begin which should alleviate impacts and transport smoke away from developed areas at both of these project locations.

Smoke may be visible from the communities of Parks, Sherwood Forest Estates, Garland Prairie, Bellemont, Grand Canyon Village, Tusayan, and Valle.Officials understand that smoke impacts to air quality may be unpleasant at times, however they can significantly reduce the amount and limit the duration more effectively using prescribed methods as opposed to an uncontrolled wildfire situation with long term effects.

During operations, fire personnel and vehicles working in these vicinities will be visible to the public. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive with heightened caution when passing through active project areas.

All prescribed burning on the Kaibab National Forest is subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division of the ADEQ and to view prescribed burns authorizations, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/smoke/index.html.

Information about prescribed fire projects on the Kaibab National Forest can be obtained through the following sources:
InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5922/
Kaibab National Forest Website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Kaibab National Forest Fire Information Phone Line (928) 635-8311.

For information about air quality and health awareness visit bit.ly/SmokeHealthAwareness

Record number of bald eagles take first flight in 2018

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PHOENIX — Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to soar as the number of breeding areas expanded statewide and a record 87 young hatched during the 2018 breeding season, according the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual survey.

The number of hatchlings rose from the previous high of 82 in 2017, as did the number of young that actually fledged, rising to 70 birds that made the important milestone of their first flight. In Arizona, at least 102 eggs were laid, which topped the 97 laid in 2017, and a record 87 breeding areas were identified, including three new areas.

“Arizona’s bald eagle population continues to be strong,” said Kenneth Jacobson, AZGFD bald eagle management coordinator. “The fact that we continue to see an increase in breeding areas and hatchlings speaks to the resiliency of these magnificent animals. Our ongoing efforts to help conserve and protect Arizona’s bald eagles appear to be working.”

Arizona’s bald eagle populations have flourished since 1978, when 11 pairs were counted within the state and the species was listed as endangered. Today there are an estimated 69 adult breeding pairs.

Bald eagles nationwide were removed as a protected species under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2007, but protections under the act were reinstated in 2008 in Arizona and remained until 2011. The department’s conservation efforts contributed to the species recovery. Nationally, the birds remain protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

The impressive growth of the population is attributed to the continued efforts of the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee – a coalition of AZGFD and 25 other government agencies, private organizations and Native American tribes – and its years of cooperative conservation efforts, including extensive monitoring by the nationally-awarded Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program.The breeding season for bald eagles in Arizona runs from December through June, although eagle pairs at higher elevations nest later than those in the rest of the state.

Continued support from the committee, State Wildlife Grants, the Heritage Fund (Arizona Lottery ticket sales) and funding through the Pittman-Robertson Act, will help ensure that Arizona’s bald eagles continue to thrive.

For more information on bald eagles in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov or www.swbemc.org.

Expect delays and on- and off-ramp closures on Interstate 40 at State Route 64 next week

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WILLIAMS — Northern Arizona drivers should expect travel delays and on- and off-ramp closures on Interstate 40 at State Route 64 during daytime hours Wednesday, November 14, and Thursday, November 15.

The closures are necessary as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues repairing 17 miles of pavement on Interstate 40 between Parks and Williams in northern Arizona. ADOT advises drivers to use Grand Canyon Boulevard (exit 163) while the following on- and off- ramp closures are in place:

Wednesday, November 14: Westbound I-40 off-ramp at SR 64 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Thursday, November 15: Eastbound I-40 on-ramp at SR 64 between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Learn more about this project here.