Category Archives: Flagstaff

Seasonal road closures still in place across Coconino NF

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest authorities would like to remind the public to stay off forest roads that are closed, and do not drive around gates, barricades, or signs that indicate a road is closed for the season.

Forest Service personnel have found broken locks on gates and tracks of drivers ignoring road-closed signs, which have created deep ruts and damaged forest roads and sensitive areas.

Coconino National Forest closes many forest roads every winter season in order to protect resources, watersheds, and forest roads from damage caused by even the lightest vehicles on soft, wet soil.

Damaging forest roads and areas costs valuable resources and personnel time to repair the damage after the roads dry out. It also prolongs road closures, which affects recreational opportunities in areas that must remain closed until repaired.

There is no set date by which districts on the forest close or re-open forest roads. Districts will re-open forest roads as the weather dries out and the soil on and around forest roads harden enough to safely accept the weight of vehicles.

When roads do begin to open, drivers are reminded that care should be taken when driving on the soil, and drivers should not continue driving on an open road if the vehicle begins to create deep ruts or otherwise damage the road or soil.

Remember to only stay on open and authorized roads that are shown on the Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), which is free at any Ranger Station or can be downloaded on a smartphone. More information about how to download the Avenza app and MVUM is available on our MVUM web page.

The smartphone map, available through the Avenza Maps app, transforms your phone to a GPS unit that can aid navigation, allow you to collect route data, and identify waypoints. The Coconino National Forest Travel Map includes additional detail and information, with shaded relief topography, game management units, hiking trails, and all designated motorized routes and areas. Once the map is downloaded, it works without cell coverage.

As an additional reminder before the camping season begins, camping is allowed on the national forest up to 14 days in a 30-day period. Camping beyond 14 days is prohibited.

West Side of Lower Lake Mary closed due to leaking levee

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest’s Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) has issued a closure order for a portion of Lower Lake Mary’s west side due to a leaking levee.

The closure has been issued as a precaution due to visible leaks in the levee.

“The safety of the public is our No. 1 priority,” said Deputy District Ranger Nicholas Mustoe. “Luckily, heavy snowfall this past winter means there are still numerous spots in the Lower Lake Mary area that visitors can still safely access.”

Lower Lake Mary visitors are advised to check the closure order map and abide by all posted signage.

Forest engineers have been working to assess the structural integrity of the levee since Friday, and forest personnel are seeking to contract a qualified third-party to assist with the analysis.

Should the levee fail, Lower Lake Mary will empty out into a side tributary. There are no campgrounds, recreation sites or private homes at risk should the levee fail. Forest officials ask the public to comply with the closure order and find other areas around Lower Lake Mary to recreate until the levee can be assessed and repaired.

Forest Road (FR) 296 may become impassible should the levee fail. Forest visitors are reminded to check the status of all forest roads at coconinonationalforest.us prior to any forest excursion.

Weekend pedestrian accident in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – On April 8th, 2023, at approximately 8:27 pm The Flagstaff Police Department received a call regarding a pedestrian versus a vehicle crash at N Highway 89 and N Cummings St.

Flagstaff Police Department Patrol responded to find the pedestrian, Clinton Brown of Louisiana, had been struck by a vehicle. Life saving measures were performed on Mr. Brown by medical personnel. At approximately 8:57 hours Mr. Brown was pronounced deceased.

The driver of the vehicle stayed on scene and was cooperative with law enforcement and the investigation.

It was reported by witnesses that the vehicle was traveling northbound approaching the intersection in the number three lane, closest to the sidewalk, when the crash occurred. The witnesses advised the vehicle had the green light to proceed through the intersection. It was reported that Mr. Brown was not in a cross walk and was crossing the road from the west.

Detectives, the Collision Reconstruction Team, and the Coconino Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the crash. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Attempted armed robbery in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – On April 5th, 2023, at approximately 1:47 pm a male entered the Swift Travel Center located at 3099 W Shamrell Blvd. Once inside the male attempted to purchase dog food. He handed the clerk money and when the money drawer was opened, he had a handgun at his waist and demanded money. The suspect left without receiving any money. He fled in a vehicle southbound on I17. He was described as a white male with face tattoos and driving a blue Dodge Durango.

Flagstaff Police Department Patrol Officers arrived on scene, obtained a description and Dispatch placed an attempt to locate out to local agencies. The Criminal Investigations Unit responded and processed the scene for evidence.

Coconino County Deputies responded to the Chevron in Munds Park, after receiving a phone call from the Clerk that they had just been robbed at gunpoint. The Clerk advised the Suspect had left the scene and left south bound on interstate 17 from Munds Park.

Responding Deputies were given a description from the clerk of the suspect and the suspect vehicle. The Clerk described the Suspect as a male wearing a black sweatshirt with white writing on the sleeve, a red Angel’s ball cap, and a black mask over his face. The Vehicle was described as a Black or dark colored Dodge Durango with a Colorado license plate.

While Deputies were responding to the Munds Park Chevron an attempt to locate was put out Department of Public Safety and other agencies south along Interstate 17.

At approximately 2:33 PM, Department of Public Safety Troopers observed a vehicle matching the description of the Armed Robber traveling southbound on Interstate 17 at Mile Post 275 in Yavapai County. State Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit was ended after the use of Stop Sticks brought the vehicle to a stop on I-17 in the Camp Verde Area at Mile Post 278. The suspect was identified as Christopher Williams, a 39-year-old male out of Westminster, Colorado. Williams was taken into custody and booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on several felony charges.

This matter is currently under investigation and no further information is available at this time.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Department of Public Safety and the Flagstaff Police Department for their assistance in this incident and bringing it to a safe conclusion.

Coconino High School shelter-in-place ordered

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FLAGSTAFF – On March 21st, 2023, Coconino High School (CHS) was placed in a shelter in place at the school’s administrator’s direction. The Flagstaff Police Department responded to the campus due to a report of public safety issue outside of the school building.
The school continued to operate as usual with learning continuing in the building. The shelter in place lasted for approximately 15 minutes and has since been lifted.
A shelter in place is initiated when the potential threat is outside of the school building and staff needs to stay inside the building for safety.
Flagstaff Police Criminal Investigation and patrol personnel remain on the campus while this investigation is on-going and for safety purposes. There are no current on-going threats at the school.
For additional information, please contact the Flagstaff Police Department at (928) 774-1414.

Fraudulent Scam Targeting Individuals in Coconino County

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has received several concerns from citizens reporting an apparent phone scam with the caller identified as “Captain Smith” of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office does not employee a “Captain Smith”.

The scammer poses as local law enforcement, contacting the victims and accusing  them of failing to appear for jury duty, stating a warrant for their arrest will be issued until the fine is paid. CCSO will never call to solicit funds or collect fines over the phone. Jury summonses are sent through the mail and communication through any other medium should be considered suspicious.

Anyone receiving such a call should contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement.

Reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a scam by following these crime prevention tips:

  •  Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, texts, or emails.
  •  Be cautious of mimicked telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Even if the information displayed on the caller ID appears the same as a law enforcement or government agency, hang up and call the agency directly to verify the caller’s legitimacy.
  •  Never use a phone number provided to you by the caller to verify their credibility.
  •  Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact with.
  •  Take your time and trust your instincts: if an unknown caller makes you uncomfortable or says things that don’t sound right, hang up.

Public Meetings Set for Proposed Increases to County Fair Fees

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County Parks & Recreation is hosting public meetings about the proposed Coconino County Fair fee updates. Two meetings have been scheduled for the public to hear the presentation, ask questions, and inform the Department of any concerns they may have.

Those meetings are scheduled for Saturday, March 18 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and on Wednesday, March 22 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held in person at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall Conference Room and online through Microsoft Teams. The presentations will last approximately 1 hour including the Q&A.

Residents can learn more, RSVP, and provide comments at coconinocountyfair.com/feeupdate. The public may also post comments and questions to the County Fair’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoconinoCountyFair.

2.5-mile Stretch of Garland Prairie Road Closed Due to Flooding

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Public Works Department, in conjunction
with the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service, has closed the
2.5-mile stretch of Garland Prairie Road between Sycamore Creek to the east and
McDougal Flat to the west due to flooding along the roadway. Access to Garland Prairie
Road from White Horse Lake Road, which intersects from the south, also has been
closed, and signage is in place to direct motorists away from the flooded area.
This closure is necessary for public safety as flows of at least two feet in depth have
been reported on this section of Garland Prairie Road. The closure will remain in effect
until weather conditions allow Public Works to safely reopen the roadway.

After Record-Breaking Snow, Coconino County Roads Will Remain Hazardous Through Weekend

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FLAGSTAFF — Much of Coconino County continues to be under a Winter Storm Warning by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Flagstaff. The Arizona Department of Transportation reports many state routes and interstates have now reopened, but hazardous road conditions may persist.

“We’ve believe we’ve seen the worst of it, for now at least,” said Coconino County Manager Steve Peru. “We understand our communities have withstood one of the worst winter storm seasons in history. Our public safety agencies are working around the clock to assist the public to the greatest extent possible.”

 

The forecast for the weekend promises the return of sunshine and slightly higher temperatures, the reprieve is greatly needed to make headway on clearing hundreds of miles of county roads.

The County Public Works Department continues to plow and maintain hundreds of miles of county roads. Public Works staff are asking the public to please reduce driving over the weekend and move cars off of streets into driveways so they have the greatest leeway for storm recovery. Public Works community relations staff are available weekdays during business hours at (928) 679-8300 for urgent requests. Frequently asked questions about County roads and snow removal priorities can be found online at www.coconino.az.gov/snow

 

With record-breaking snow amounts, the Winter recreation season in Northern Arizona should last several more weeks. Those looking to travel to Coconino County for winter recreation should consider delaying until after this weekend to allow time for proper road cleanup and snow removal.

 

Coconino County Storm Information
Snow Removal Information
County Twitter
Emergency Management Twitter
Public Works: (928) 679- 8300 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

Arizona Department of Transportation
ADOT Traveler Information and Closures
ADOT Twitter

National Weather Service
Local Forecast and Alerts
NWS Twitter

Flood Control District Board Approves Two Essential Funding Sources for County Flood Mitigation Projects

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FLAGSTAFF — At this week’s special session of the Coconino County Flood Control District Board of Directors they approved acceptance of two new Federal grants that will enable the District to immediately proceed with the first phase of long-term flood mitigation projects in the Schultz-Pipeline Flood Area.

The Schultz-Pipeline Flood Area is defined as the neighborhoods downstream of nine major watersheds damaged by the Schultz Wildfire in 2010 and the Pipeline Wildfire this past year. The District, along with several engineering partners, have determined that without extensive on-forest and neighborhood mitigation measures, the risk of life-threatening floods affecting our communities will only increase.

“The priority of local government is the health and safety of our citizens, and our citizens’ lives and homes were severely impacted this past monsoon season by the nine watersheds compromised by two major wildfires,” said Chair of the Board Patrice Horstman.

“We want to thank Senators Kelly and Sinema and former Congressman Tom O’Halleran for their strong support with securing this unprecedented funding. Without it, the District and County would have likely had to cut other services to provide flood mitigation.”

The two funding sources include $42 million from the United States Forest Service, which allows the District to commence with on-forest watershed restoration projects. After the Pipeline Fire damaged the nine watersheds, the downstream water flows increased 10 to 26 times resulting a massive amount of sediment leaving the burn area and moving into the downstream neighborhoods. On-forest watershed restoration is the most critical piece of the District’s flood mitigation plans, as these measures help reduce the flow of dangerous sediment and other debris that is impacting downstream neighborhoods.

“The Coconino National Forest is thrilled to continue our amazing partnership with Coconino County and support the important work to manage the impacts from wildfire and flooding in and around our communities,” said Aaron Mayville, Forest Supervisor on the Coconino National Forest. “We’re all in this together and I look forward to seeing the great work this funding will make possible.”

The second funding mechanism is $9 million through an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a part of their Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP) to begin neighborhood flood mitigation projects in the Wupatki Trails and Brandis Way flood corridors. These projects will focus on improvements to channels and box culverts that will better manage the increased flood waters within these neighborhoods. The neighborhood flood mitigation from the Schultz Fire era was overwhelmed by the increased water flows during 45 major flood events in June, July, and August of 2022.

The Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a federal emergency recovery program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, helps local communities recover after a natural disaster strikes. The program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.

“These grants are the product of great teamwork between the District and our partners and representatives in Washington D.C.,” added District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler. “I’m so pleased that we have this good news about being able to address the impacts of both the wildfires and the flooding afterwards.”

For the status of the Flood Control District’s ongoing flood mitigation efforts, important information about proper water management on private property, and information about private flood insurance and FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, please visit: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2926/SchultzPipeline-Flood-Area