Category Archives: Phoenix

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.

MVD gets award for improved customer service and innovation

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Getting Arizona out of line and safely on the road is getting widespread attention.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has received the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) “Improvement through Efficiencies Service Award” for the MVD online insurance update and reinstatement functions introduced last year. Those transactions previously required a visit to an MVD or Authorized Third Party office.

“In Arizona, the Motor Vehicle Division has been leading the way in making sure government serves its customers more efficiently and effectively,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “The dedicated employees of MVD have embraced the principles of the Arizona Management System to eliminate waste and maximize productivity. The results are stunning. Customers are spending half the time in MVD offices waiting than they did just a few years ago. That success belongs to the employees of MVD, and Arizonans are seeing the benefit.”

MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said, “It’s an honor to be recognized for our successes, but the real winners here are the MVD customers who continue to have more options for doing business more conveniently online. We have a terrific team of MVD employees who have embraced the culture of everyday improvement through the Arizona Management System and I’m proud that they’re getting this recognition.”

The Insurance Update is free and allows customers to electronically provide information regarding their insurance coverage directly to MVD. Insurance companies are given seven days by law to update policy information when changes such as cancellations or renewals occur. On those occasions when there may be a lag in that reporting time from an insurance provider, this online option will help customers with valid insurance to immediately update their MVD record and avoid a suspension.

The update tool is easy to use and asks for information that is found directly on an insurance card.

In addition to the Insurance Update, the Reinstatement Function allows customers to reinstate vehicle insurance that had been previously canceled or lapsed. The function determines eligibility for reinstatement, makes real-time updates to the MVD customer database upon completion, allows the customer to pay the $50 fee for each vehicle reinstatement, and provides a receipt confirmation that indicates the registration has been reinstated.

AAMVA was founded in 1933 and supports motor vehicle and law enforcement agencies in North America through programs and services focusing on safe drivers and vehicles, identity security, motor carrier services and technology solutions.

For more information: www.azdot.gov/mvd and www.aamva.org

Water being shut off today in Oak Creek Canyon below Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department will temporarily shut down the water system servicing some of the upper Oak Creek users today for repairs to the Sterling Spring Fish Hatchery delivery system.

The water system shutdown will impact the Pine Flats Subdivision, Manresa Resort, Pine Flat Campground and the public water faucet along state Route 89A.

The water service is expected to be operational Wednesday evening. The repairs are to prepare for an anticipated renovation at Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery this winter.

For questions regarding this project call, David Fox, Sterling Springs Fish Hatchery manager, at (928) 282-3643.

High flow event at Lees Ferry November 5-10

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PHOENIX — An experimental release of 38,100 cfs from Glen Canyon Dam will take place November 5-10 at the world-renowned Lees Ferry trout fishery just downstream in picturesque Marble Canyon.

The flows are short term, yet significant enough to preclude any fishing from occurring during the peak high releases. The fishing is usually excellent the week following these high flows because these flows make aquatic invertebrates (fish food) available to trout. Normal flows before and after the high flows should offer great wading and fishing this fall.

The Department of Interior will begin the release from Glen Canyon Dam Nov. 5. The flows will reach full capacity (approximately 38,100 cfs) by 2 p.m. on November 5. Releases will be maintained at peak releases about 2.5 days (60 hours) before ramping down. Normal operations of 6,500-9,000 cfs will return on Nov. 8.

The goal for the Department of the Interior is to move sand stored in the river channel and redeposit it to rebuild eroded sandbars and beaches downstream of the Paria River in Grand Canyon National Park.

See more information from the National Parks Service.

View the AZGFD presentation on public awareness/education funding source

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PHOENIX — Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) constituents are reminded that a presentation on recently submitted ideas for establishing and maintaining a discretionary, dedicated funding source for public awareness and education has been posted on the AZGFD Customer Portal at https://www.azgfd.com/agency/dedicated-funding-source/. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission directed the department to analyze ideas submitted by the public: the addition of a big game bonus point option, and the potential to expand revenue sources from non-traditional customers.

The posting of the presentation kicked off a second 30-day comment period that ends November 18. Please submit comments (specific only to the proposals covered in the presentation) via email to (ideas@azgfd.gov).

AZGFD is also seeking feedback to specific questions at Answer Questions HERE regarding a big game bonus point option. This feedback will provide the department with a preliminary glimpse of public opinion on the topic. Additional analyses and public vetting will be needed to fully assess the potential for this option.

The presentation and online questions also are posted at https://www.azgfd.com/agency/dedicated-funding-source/.

AZGFD will present feedback on the potential options for the funding source to the Game and Fish Commission at its public meeting December 7 in Phoenix.

Expect lane closures on State Route 89A near Sedona November 6-8

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and south-bound State Route 89A near Sedona between mileposts 389 and 374 while crews maintain roadside vegetation.

The work is scheduled to occur from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 6, through Thursday, November 8.

SR 89A will be narrowed to one lane during daytime operations.
Flaggers and a pilot car will direct motorists through the work zone.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for maintenance personnel and equipment.

Lane closures scheduled on northbound Interstate 17 near Camp Verde November 6 and 7

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on northbound Interstate 17 near Camp Verde Tuesday, November 6, and Wednesday, November 7. All work is scheduled between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The right lane of northbound I-17 will be closed for roadside maintenance.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Commission Appointment Recommendation Board to interview 3 candidates

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Arizona Game and Fish commission building. – AZGF Photo

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13, to interview three candidates for the governor’s appointment to fill a 2019 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The meeting will be held at the Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. An agenda has been posted at www.azgfd.gov/board, and the public is invited to attend.

The following candidates will be interviewed: William N. Collins, James E. Goughnour, and Patrick W. Headington. They were chosen from a list of eight applicants considered by the board at its October 23 public meeting. After the interviews on November 13, the board will select at least two or possibly all three candidates to forward to Gov. Doug Ducey for consideration for the appointment.

Per Arizona Revised Statute 17-202, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending candidates for appointment to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The board shall recommend at least two, but no more than five, candidates to the governor. The governor must select and appoint a commissioner from the list submitted by the board.

For additional information about the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board, contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449 or toll free at 1-800-253-0883 or on the web at www.azgovernor.gov.

For more information on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

ADOT busy with freeway projects leading up to holiday season

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Phoenix-area freeway drivers may have noticed more construction and maintenance closures along interstates 10 and 17 last weekend. There’s some good news behind those restrictions.

A scheduled increase in freeway work and closures in October and November allows the Arizona Department of Transportation to make progress on important improvements before a decrease in restrictions sets in during the holiday travel season.

Crews have been busy in recent weeks on ADOT projects ranging from bridge construction at the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange at I-10 and 59th Avenue to I-17 pavement improvements south of downtown Phoenix.

ADOT is getting that work done now in order to limit weekend restrictions, including full freeway closures, during the holiday travel and shopping season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

Scheduling weekend or overnight freeway restrictions in recent weeks in order to lighten the load during the holidays hasn’t been easy, especially with record-setting rainfall in the Phoenix area in October.

Project teams made substantial progress at the I-10/South Mountain Freeway interchange last weekend, including pouring the concrete deck for the elevated ramp that will provide a connection between northbound Loop 202 and westbound I-10 by late 2019.

Over the next few weeks and weekends, drivers in the Phoenix area can expect additional closures or lane restrictions along I-10 near 59th Avenue for work on the Loop 202 interchange. Bridge inspections also are planned at the I-10/I-17 “Stack” interchange near downtown. An ongoing I-10 project near Loop 303 in Goodyear is installing traffic-flow sensors in the pavement as well as electronic message signs above the interstate.

In addition to the holiday travel season, ADOT also will pull back from major freeway restrictions Nov. 8-11, during the NASCAR race weekend at ISM Raceway in the West Valley.

Schnebly Hill Road off-ramp from southbound Interstate 17 scheduled to close temporarily November 5

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The Arizona Department of Transportation advises northern Arizona drivers that the southbound I-17 Schnebly Hill Road off-ramp (exit 320) is scheduled to close Monday, November 5, from 8 a.m. to noon while crews repair guardrail.

During the closure, motorists should continue southbound on I-17 for 3 miles to Woods Canyon/Fox Ranch Road (exit 317) to exit and re-enter northbound I-17 to Schnebly Hill Road.

Please proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.