Category Archives: Coconino National Forest

Flagstaff Ranger District looking for volunteers to plant trees

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download1FLAGSTAFF — FLAGscanner is reporting that the Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest is inviting volunteers to help replant approximately 2,000 ponderosa pine trees in the Schultz burn are on Saturday, Aug. 29. Volunteers should arrive by 8:30 a.m. to attend a safety briefing and planting demonstration.

A meeting area has been established at Schultz Pass Road (Forest Road 420) at the entrance to the Vulcan Mine. From Flagstaff, head north on Highway 89 approximately 12 miles. When you see the turn-off for Wupatki-Sunset Crater National Monument, turn left and go across the other side of the highway onto the dirt road. Follow the forest road to a “T” intersection and turn left again. Drive approximately one-half mile until you see signs for the planting event. The road should be suitable for most cars. Persons with low clearance vehicles are advised to drive carefully on the forest road.

More information including contact is available at FLAGscanner.

Please watch your children while camping.

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jerold-williams-nWILLIAMS — Since last Thursday, the missing 5-year-old Jerold Williams caught the attention of a nation. Young Jerold was lost while walking with his mother near Jacobs Lake in the northern Kaibab Forest. Searchers from several agencies searched from the the time he was reported missing until they, unfortunately, found him deceased yesterday. This sad event underscores the necessity to watch your children closely while camping. Even an adult can become disoriented in unfamiliar territory. With hunting season approaching it become even more imperative that you keep children close to camp.

There are, also, wild animals that may attract attention of young children. Unfortunately this may include skunks which have been known to have contracted rabies. Deer and elk may seem tame to pet, but they can turn and attack without warning. Yes, we even have the more dangerous variety of animals; mountain lions and bears.

If you are coming to camp in any forest in northern Arizona, you must realize that it is heavily wooded. A child can easily become separated in the heavy brush. If you notice your child missing, please report it immediately. Particularly if you are not sure how long the child was missing.

Then, if you must, search carefully and watch for any clues that you can report to authorities. In the case of a missing child, use 911. Remember that cell phones may not work in remote camp sites. You may have to drive toward Williams before you can pick up a signal.

Our prayers are with the family that suffered this tragic loss.

Bill to allow certain temporary government employees to be eligible to compete for permanent positions in Senate.

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WASHINGTON — H.R.1531, the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, would allow employees serving in the Department of the Interior on a lime-limited basis eligible to compete for permanent positions within the agency. The bill passed the House on July 7 and moved to the Senate on the 8th.

The House bill was submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs without amendments or reports. It was placed on the Senate legislative calendar yesterday.

The measure would allow employees in certain positions of the Department of the Interior to compete for permanent positions if they have served in temporary competitive service in one or more time-limited appointment for more than 24-months without a break of two, or more, years and the employee performance has been acceptable.

Temporary employees who were separated not more than two years who otherwise meets the eligibility of this measure would be allowed to compete for permanent positions if their separation was not for misconduct or poor performance.

The bill would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or other examining agency, in determining the eligibility of a time-limited employee to be examined for or appointed in the competitive service. The person would becomes a career-conditional employee and acquire competitive status upon appointment.

The bill would waive age requirements for appointees under this measure unless the age requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of a particular position.

Prescribed burns planned this week

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Photo by Brenda Carter

FLAGSTAFF — Fire managers are planning three prescribed burns this week in areas near Lake Mary Road, Luke Mountain and Mormon Lake basin.

Mountainaire Project: Planned ignition will be Wednesday (April 15) if conditions are suitable for burning. This burn includes approximately 550 acres along the south side of Lake Mary Road just one to two miles east of Pulliam Airport. Smoke is expected to disperse to the southeast and will be visible to those in the Flagstaff area.

Rocky Project: Planned ignition will be Thursday (April 16) or Friday (April 17), depending on weather conditions. The burn area includes 385 acres in an area near Luke Mountain that is located about 7 miles south of Munds Park on the east side of Interstate 17. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast away from I-17, but smoke may drift back towards the interstate during evening hours.

Mormon Lake Basin Project: Planned ignition will be Thursday (April 16) or Friday (April 17), depending on weather conditions. The burn area includes 1,000 acres in an area just west of the Village of Mormon Lake off Forest Road 219. Smoke is expected to disperse to the northeast, but settle in to the Mormon Lake area and may impact the community around Mormon Lake.

Read more at FLAGScanner

Forest service announces job fair in Flagstaff

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forest-01FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests are hosting two Job Information Sessions to provide information on employment and career opportunities with the Forest Service.

The first session is scheduled for Dec. 12 from 1 to 6 p.m. The second session is Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Both sessions will be held at the Flagstaff YMCA, 1001 N. Turquoise Dr., Flagstaff.

Early opportunity to preview 4FRI final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision

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350-4friFLAGSTAFF – The Forest Service is providing the public with an early opportunity to preview the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft Record of Decision (DROD) for Phase 1 of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).  The FEIS and DROD for the first analysis area on the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests will be available by November 21, 2014 at the 4FRI website.

In order to allow additional time for public consideration of these extensive documents, online access to the FEIS and DROD is being made available prior to the official start of the formal objection period.

“This environemntal analysis and the subsequent decision will help shape restoration action on almost a million acres for a decade,” said Kaibab National Forest Supervisor, Mike Williams. “An early preview will give the public extra time to review, understand, and ask questions about a significant step forward for our landscape.”

The FEIS analyzes about one million acres on the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona. The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests are proposing 586,110 acres of restoration activities with approximately 355,708 acres on the Flagstaff, Mogollon, and Red Rock districts of the Coconino NF and 230,402 acres on the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab NF. The completed environmental analysis and a subsequent final ROD for Phase 1, provide the legal authority to accelerate restoration activities.

“The FEIS and DROD incorporate years of stakeholder and public input including key concerns such as the protection of large and old trees. Meaningful collaboration continues to be essential to our success on this project,” added Williams.

In accordance with federal regulations, the Forest Service will offer a 45-day formal objection period on the FEIS, which will begin with the publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register.  The NOA is expected to be published in early December 2014.

Fire restrictions lifted in Coconino and Kaibab

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640px-Kaibab-140709-02FLAGSTAFF – Due to significant and widespread rain and rapidly decreasing fire danger, the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in northern Arizona will lift all fire restrictions at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8.

640px-Kaibab-140709-01Managers typically lift fire restrictions when at least a half inch of precipitation has been received over more than two-thirds of the forests. To date, many areas of both forests have received double that amount of precipitation, with an inch or more of rain being reported in many locations. Fire danger has decreased dramatically from “extreme” last week to “moderate” today.

Besides lifting all fire restrictions, the Kaibab National Forest will also reopen the Bill Williams Mountain Watershed on the Williams Ranger District tomorrow morning, which had been closed to public entry due to wildfire risk. The Coconino National Forest is evaluating conditions in Fossil Creek and will make a determination later this week about the appropriate time to reopen the area.

“With the onset of the monsoon season, the low number of human-caused fire starts, and the availability of many firefighting resources, we are comfortable that it is the appropriate time to lift fire restrictions,” said Holly Kleindienst, deputy fire staff officer for the Kaibab National Forest. “Fire restrictions were extremely effective this year in reducing the number of fires caused by people. We are thankful to our visitors for their help in preventing fires by complying with the restrictions that were in effect.”

800px-bee-01The two forests initially implemented campfire and smoking restrictions on April 18. This was relatively early but was necessary due to a dry winter and impacts of long-term drought on the forests. Additional fire restrictions and area closures were implemented as the forests faced increasing levels of fire danger through the spring and summer.

While all fire restrictions will be lifted as of tomorrow, forest visitors are always expected to use caution with campfires and other potential ignition sources. For information on preventing human-caused fires.