PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a $412,000 Water Quality Improvement Grant to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to improve water quality in the San Pedro River, Little Colorado River and Oak Creek. AZGFD will provide more than $274,000 in matching funds.
ADEQ’s first formal agreement committing funds from both partnering agencies to specific projects in shared priority areas will also further the goals of multiple state and federal initiatives. Eligible projects will protect and restore water quality, grass and rangeland health and wildlife habitats in priority areas identified by ADEQ and AZGFD in the state Nonpoint Source Management Plan and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program and National Water Quality Initiative.
“We think this will be a great framework for broadening our audience and customer base, and also for potentially implementing projects at low or no cost to landowners beyond maintenance requirements,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Director Trevor Baggiore.
Leveraging resources across state and federal partners will result in the reduction of impairment-causing pollutants, improvement of grassland habitat for wildlife, improved grazing practices.
Baggiore added, “Teaming up with AZGFD’s Landowner Relations Program, which has a longstanding, strong local presence and ties to rural water management areas, will strengthen ADEQ’s ability to partner with rural landowners in identifying priority on-the-ground projects.”
“Many of ADEQ’ water quality improvement goals dovetail nicely with grassland, rangeland and habitat improvement goals we share with ranchers and other partnering agencies,” said Wade Zarlingo, AZGFD Landowner Relations Program Coordinator.
ADEQ will evaluate the effectiveness of these projects for improving water quality. Matching funds for projects will be provided by a combination of AZGFD state funding, landowner contributions, in-kind services, and Arizona Department of Agriculture Livestock Crop Conservation Grant Program.
WILLIAMS — Williams woke up to a light coat of snow which did not prevent the fire department from making the rounds with Santa. The sun burnt off much of the snow before noon and the day remained mostly sunny.
Santa Fe is a rare mix of water and a thin coat of ice which captured the morning snow. Some even took time to create some artwork in the snow.
All-in-all it was a beautiful day in Williams. That may change overnight, however, as there is a 40% chance of snow today with 20% in the morning and into Saturday night. High winds are predicted with wind chill values of -14-degrees.
WILLIAMS — Just when you thought they couldn’t get any lower, Love’s does. They dropped gas prices to $1.99 (and 9 tenths) at 9 a.m. this morning.
WILLIAMS — The weather this morning was a strange mix of mist, fog and sun. Much of the snow has melted off, but the water is mixing with remaining snow causing slippery conditions. High winds are causing the temperature to remain cooler, but was not cold.
WILLIAMS — Williams received a light dusting of snow this morning matching the NOAA forecast of snow before 11 a.m. By 10 a.m. the sun was out making for a fairly warm morning.
WILLIAMS — Last night about twenty citizens of the Williams community braved the cold to spread Christmas carols. If they had waited just one more day, it would have been a much warmer night.
Kids and adults still seemed in good spirits as they headed off to share the joy of the season in song.
WILLIAMS — The 
WILLIAMS — Weather in Williams has warmed up to the mid-30s. Santa Fe is frozen over and visitors are enjoying the snow.
In the meantime, the Zipline is open for business until it is actually snowing or raining. Visitors are enjoying the weather with special construction projects.
FREDONIA — It’s that time of year again; time to dust off and update the resume in preparation for the USDA Forest Service annual hiring of qualified applicants for 2016 temporary seasonal spring and summer positions. These seasonal job opportunities may include positions in wildland firefighting as well as other challenging and rewarding fields like recreation, range, engineering, archaeology, timber and visitor services.