Category Archives: National Government

Green Waste Disposal Site Opening Dates Announced

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest in cooperation with the Parks Area Connection and Sherwood Forest Estates Fire District are announcing dates the green waste disposal site will open to residents for dumping of woody debris materials from private property.

This alternative site is being offered to the local community as a result of the temporary closure of the Moonset Pit while undergoing construction to expand capacity for future operations.

The green waste disposal site located at the old dump site off forest road 900 north of Pittman Valley will be staffed and open between the hours of 08:00am and 2:00pm on the following dates. Users will only be allowed to access and discard herbaceous material on these dates while staff is present.

Saturday, May 12, Sunday, May 27.
Saturday, June 9, Saturday, June 23.
Saturday, July 14, Saturday, July 28.
Saturday, August 11, Saturday, August 25.
Saturday, September 8.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of these services in order to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire. No garbage, household trash, building materials, lumber or other items will be allowed. Materials should not be bagged.

An alternative cinder collection site has also been offered to residents in the interim until the Moonset Pit re-opens in 2019. The W-Triangle Cinder Pit just north of Spring Valley will be available to residents for personal use cinder collection. Personal mineral material permits are available at the Williams Ranger District office at 742 S Clover road during regular business hours Monday through Friday. The pit will remain open to all users who possess a valid permit for collection with no time or date restrictions.

For more information on the about the Moonset Pit expansion project contact Deirdre McLaughlin at damclaughlin@fs.fed.us 928-635-5662. For additional information on creating defensible space, visit www.firewise.org or fireadapted.org/

Kaibab National Forest to offer Tusayan Ranger District firewood permits in Tuba City and Cameron

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TUSAYAN – The Kaibab National Forest will issue free-use, paid personal-use and ceremonial firewood permits for the Tusayan Ranger District at the following locations in Tuba City and Cameron over the coming months:

· April 20 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Tuba City Flea Market
· May 5 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Location signs to be posted at Cameron Chapter House
· May 18 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Tuba City Flea Market
· June 2 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Location signs to be posted at Cameron Chapter House
· Aug. 17 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Tuba City Flea Market
· Sept. 21 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Tuba City Flea Market
· Oct. 12 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Cameron Community Celebration
· Oct. 19 – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. DST – Tuba City Flea Market

A permit must be acquired by anyone harvesting any firewood on the Kaibab National Forest, except for the small amounts used in a campfire and gathered at the campfire site. The 2018 firewood cutting season runs from April 16 to Dec. 31 for the Tusayan Ranger District.

The minimum cost for a paid, personal-use firewood permit is $20, which is good for 10 cords of wood. A maximum of 20 cords of wood is available per individual for $40. For free-use permits, a maximum of 10 cords is available per individual. For ceremonial permits, two cords are available per individual with proper identification.

Besides the Tuba City and Cameron opportunities, permits are also available during firewood season at the following Kaibab National Forest locations:

Williams Ranger District – 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; (928) 635-5600
Tusayan Ranger District – 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Grand Canyon; (928) 638-2443
North Kaibab Ranger District – 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; (928) 643-7395

It is important that a permit be acquired even for free-use areas because by tracking public demand for the various kinds of permits, the amount of wood removed, and other factors, forest managers are better able to plan for the future needs of firewood collectors and provide greater opportunities for accessing these important resources. Firewood from the Kaibab National Forest is frequently used by local community and tribal members for home heating, cooking and other critical purposes.

All permits issued by the Kaibab National Forest will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest and to inform planning for future firewood cutting areas to meet public need and forest restoration objectives.

The removal of firewood is permitted only from National Forest lands on the district for which the permit is issued. Firewood cutters are reminded to take note of property boundaries and cut only on National Forest lands.

Firewood cutters should be aware that chainsaws can throw sparks and ignite grasses and brush. Always carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher or water in case of a fire start. Additionally, all chainsaws must be equipped with a stainless steel spark arrestor screen.

Given the dry winter, it is likely that fire restrictions will be implemented on the Kaibab National Forest during 2018. Visitors can help prevent unwanted-human caused wildfires by always being aware of current conditions and staying abreast of any fire restrictions or forest closures that may be in effect.

Detailed firewood cutting information and maps will be updated throughout the firewood season on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.bit.ly/KNFfuelwood.

Members of the public can find additional information on the Kaibab National Forest, including any fire restrictions or forest closures that may be in effect, through the following sources:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Campfire Safety Urged This Weekend on Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS – Kaibab National Forest fire managers would like to remind visitors and the public to use extreme caution with campfires and any other activity that could potentially cause a wildfire as the weekend approaches.

Although there are currently no fire restrictions in effect on the forest, a dry cold front will bring stronger southwest winds into the area this weekend. Temperatures will be noticeably cooler however very dry conditions will endure increasing the threat for critical fire weather. A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for all of northern Arizona beginning Wednesday afternoon. Winds are expected to be up to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph today and 22 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph on Thursday. Although red flag conditions are not yet set for Friday, winds will be 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

“When fuel moistures and relative humidity remain low, fire can spread just as fast even when cold temperatures exist” said Fred Phillips Fire Prevention Officer on the Williams Ranger District. “Historically we have seen more unwanted human caused wildfires occur during this time of year when these type of conditions exist.”

We welcome people to visit and enjoy a wide variety of unique recreational opportunities the forest has to offer, but emphasize the message that there is always a need to be responsible with campfires.

The following tips for ensuring a safe visit to the Kaibab National Forest are recommended:

  1. Never abandon or leave a campfire unattended.
  2. Have a shovel and plenty of water on hand to put it out. “Drown, Stir, and Feel!”
  3. Ensure the area surrounding your campfire is free of any burnable materials.
  4. Use existing campfire rings to minimize impact to the surrounding soil.
  5. Remember fireworks are prohibited on all National Forest Lands.
  6. Dispose of all trash and debris in appropriate receptacles.

    Remember that if a fire starts no matter what precautions you take, evacuate the area immediately. Do not try to pack up your stuff and do not try to fight the fire yourself. When you get to a safe location call 911.

    As weather conditions become warmer and drier, fire managers will continue to assess the need to implement fire restrictions. Forest visitors may call the Kaibab National Forest fire information phone line at (928) 635-8311 for current conditions and the status of fire restrictions. To find out if fire restrictions are in effect anywhere in Arizona, visit www.firerestrictions.us/az.

Kaibab National Forest to offer firewood permits

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WILLIAMS – The Kaibab National Forest will offer firewood cutting permits for the 2018 firewood season beginning April 16 for the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts and May 1 for the North Kaibab Ranger District.

The minimum cost for a personal use firewood permit is $20. Firewood cutting permits can be purchased at the following locations and during the specified hours Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays:

· Williams Ranger District, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; (928) 635-5600
· Tusayan Ranger District, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 638-2443
· North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; (928) 643-7395

The 2018 firewood cutting season runs from April 16 to Dec. 31 for the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts and from May 1 to Nov. 30 for the North Kaibab Ranger District.

Besides the paid, personal-use firewood permits, free-use permits may also be available for specific areas on the forest. Individuals seeking such permits should check with the appropriate ranger district office for availability, locations and other information. Those interested in free-use permits are also encouraged to check in periodically with the appropriate ranger district office throughout the firewood season, as additional free-use areas may be opened for public use.

It is important that a permit be acquired even for free-use areas because by tracking public demand for the various kinds of permits, the amount of wood removed, and other factors, forest managers are better able to plan for the future needs of firewood collectors and provide greater opportunities for accessing these important resources. Firewood from the Kaibab National Forest is frequently used by local community and tribal members for home heating, cooking and other critical purposes.

“We consider our firewood cutters to be partners in our forest restoration efforts. We have a lot of dead and down trees as well as small-diameter trees that firewood cutters help us remove. This improves overall forest health and reduces the threat of unnaturally severe wildfire,” said Samantha Flores, timber staff officer for the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts. “We ask our firewood cutting partners to always get a permit for any wood removed so that we can continue to provide plentiful opportunities for firewood collection across the forest.”

All permits issued by the Kaibab National Forest will include a map and detailed cutting regulations as well as load tags, which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The goal of this load tagging system is to ensure accountability for the amount of wood removed from the forest and to inform planning for future firewood cutting areas to meet public need and forest restoration objectives.

The removal of firewood is permitted only from National Forest lands on the district for which the permit is issued. Firewood cutters are reminded to take note of property boundaries and cut only on National Forest lands.

Detailed firewood cutting information and maps for each ranger district will soon be available on the Kaibab National Forest website at www.bit.ly/KNFfuelwood. Please check back for updates as firewood season cutting dates approach.

Members of the public can find additional information on the Kaibab National Forest through the following sources:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Kaibab National Forest continues forest restoration project north of Parks

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WILLIAMS – With the return of spring weather, log trucks will again be able to access and remove trees, chips and other material from the 1,039-acre Community Tank Timber Sale area north of the Parks community where forest restoration work has been occurring since last fall.

The Community Tank project is located about 11 miles north of Parks just south of Forest Road 171 and west of Kendrick Mountain Wilderness near Pumpkin Center on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Harvesting operations began last September, with about 800 acres having been treated to date. The forest restoration work is expected to continue through July, barring weather or other delays.

Residents of Parks and visitors recreating in the area can expect to see an increasing number of log trucks traveling along the haul route to and from the project beginning this month. Approximately 14 trucks per day may be visiting the site in order to remove downed trees and other restoration byproducts.

The major haul route is from Forest Road 151 and FR 194 to FR 141, which travels through the Parks community, and then on to Interstate 40. It is possible that there could be a significant number of trucks hauling timber through this area until project completion.

By May, foresters with the Kaibab National Forest anticipate an increase in tree felling operations at the site in order to complete the remaining acres of restoration work within the 1,039-acre project area. As this thinning work is implemented, residents and visitors can expect to see heavy, mechanized equipment and workers on site and a continued presence of log trucks along the haul route.

Members of the public are urged to use extreme caution near timber removal and hauling operations. Besides the presence of heavy equipment and log trucks, there will also be trees being felled and stacked into log decks, which can be unstable. Visitors to the area should not camp near nor climb on them, as they often shift and have the possibility of collapse. Motorists should be aware of the likelihood of encountering a log truck along haul routes and are encouraged to drive with safety in mind at all times.

The objectives of the Community Tank Timber Sale are to reduce fuel loading and the potential for future high-intensity wildfires and to improve forest health and watershed conditions. Another important component of the effort is to work toward restoration of historic grasslands and meadows, which support a variety of wildlife species including pronghorn antelope. As a result of historical livestock grazing, fire suppression, changes in wildlife populations, climate change, and other factors, grasslands and meadows have experienced substantial encroachment and infilling by woody species over the last century.“Much of this area was open meadow historically. The restoration work we are doing at Community Tank is improving habitat quality and connectivity,” said Tom Dauenhauer, timber sale administrator, Kaibab National Forest. “We are already seeing much more frequent visitation to and use of the area by pronghorn since we started this project. That is a great benefit to be added to all of the other community protection and forest health benefits of this work.”

The tree harvesting efforts occurring on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are part of the overarching restoration work associated with the Four Forest Restoration Initiative. The goal of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative is to accelerate the pace and scale of restoration within 2.4 million acres of ponderosa pine forest in northern Arizona to increase resilience and proper functioning. Restoring this fire-adapted ecosystem is accomplished with a suite of restoration activities, from watershed maintenance and habitat improvements to prescribed burning and thinning.

For additional information on the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, visit www.fs.usda.gov/4fri. Members of the public can find additional information on the Kaibab National Forest through the following sources:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF

Moonset Pit Renovations Begin But Will Remain Closed For Public Safety

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WILLIAMS – Officials on the Kaibab National Forest, are alerting local residents in and around the communities of Parks and Sherwood Forest Estates, that Moonset Pit will undergo an expansion project set to begin this month.

The purpose of the project is to open up the space within the pit which will allow for separation between the cinder operations and the woody debris piles ultimately providing for a much safer environment for all users. It will also provide for a larger capacity which in turn will accommodate more users for this popular site in the future.

The work will involve a Forest Service contractor who will clear timber from an additional 5 acres adjacent to the existing area. Once the timber has been safely removed, Coconino County Public Works will continue with the surface expansion creating a larger, safer area between the personal use cinder materials and the debris pit used for public disposal of natural woody materials.

Unfortunately, due to the hazardous nature of the site undergoing construction, the entire pit will remain closed for public use for the remainder of the year to ensure public safety. Kaibab National Forest and Coconino County officials hope to complete the entire project by spring of 2019 and expect the Moonset Pit to be fully operational and open for both uses by the summer of 2019.

In the interim, alternative locations have been designated to provide residents options to access personal use cinders and provide a location for dumping of herbaceous materials from cleanup of private properties.

The W-Triangle Cinder Pit just north of Spring Valley will be available to residents for personal use cinder collection. Personal mineral material permits are available at the William Ranger District office at 742 S Clover road during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

The alternative green waste disposal site will be at the old dump site off Buggy Wheel road on forest road 900 north of Pittman Valley off forest road 74. Scheduled days and hours of operation at this temporary location will be made available by early next week. Access will only be permitted during open hours of operation.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of these services in order to make their private property more defensible against the threat of wildland fire. No garbage, household trash, building materials, lumber or other items will be allowed. Materials should not be bagged.The success of this community provision is largely attributed to the volunteers of the Parks Area Connection and Sherwood Forest Fire District who staff these pits during open hours of operation. This annual service is also supported by the Kaibab National Forest and the Rural Communities Fuels Management Partnership.

For more information on the about the Moonset Pit expansion project contact Deirdre McLaughlin at damclaughlin@fs.fed.us 928-635-5662
For additional information on creating defensible space, visit www.firewise.org or fireadapted.org/

Road resurfacing to begin on Forest Road 140 on Williams Ranger District

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WILLIAMS – A contractor working for the Kaibab National Forest will begin a road maintenance project this week on Forest Road 140 on the Williams Ranger District in order to ensure the popular route continues to meet Forest Service road standards.

This work will include roadway reconditioning and resurfacing on an approximately 5-mile stretch of FR 140, which accesses Dogtown Lake and other recreation opportunities on the Williams Ranger District. The section of FR 140 to receive this maintenance work begins at the intersection FR 140H and continues until the intersection with FR 140K.

Forest Service road engineers anticipate that the resurfacing project will be complete by the end of May. While FR 140 will not be closed during the project, motorists can expect delays and should exercise caution while traveling through the area due to varying road conditions and the presence of heavy equipment. Travelers on the road can expect delays of up to 30 minutes and are urged to drive slowly through the entire construction zone.

FR 140 is used frequently by Kaibab National Forest visitors to access fishing, camping, hunting and other recreational opportunities. Forest visitors seeking a spot for dispersed camping are encouraged to consider other routes on the Williams Ranger District during the duration of the road maintenance work given the likelihood of dust and noise near the project area.

Besides work on FR 140 itself, haul trucks will also be traveling in the area from nearby Ruin Pit. Likely haul routes include portions of forest roads 110, 109, 141, 12 and 140. Motorists should always use caution when driving near heavy trucks and equipment.

This road resurfacing project is part of the larger forest restoration effort occurring on Kaibab National Forest. FR 140 will provide improved access for log trucks and other heavy equipment supporting future timber sales and other thinning projects. The road work also improves safety conditions and enhances visitor experience when traveling to popular recreation areas on the forest.

Forest Service engineers regularly evaluate and monitor road conditions across the forest to determine priorities for work. FR 140 has been in need of reconditioning and resurfacing for some time, and forest managers expect visitors to have an improved experience once the current project is complete.

To contact the Williams Ranger District office, call (928) 635-5600. Additional Kaibab National Forest is available through the following sources:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/kaibabnf (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
Kaibab website “News & Events”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab

Snow Fall Allows for Continuation of Pile Burns on Kaibab National Forest

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WILLIAMS – Recent snow storms have presented excellent conditions for crews to continue with fuels reduction efforts on both the Tusayan and Williams Ranger districts. Pile burns will carry on in various locations south of Williams and approximately 20 miles east of Tusayan near Russel Tank.

Operations could be extended well into next week with more snow being forecasted in the days ahead. Weather conditions are evaluated on a daily basis and burns only occur when conditions meet prescription parameters. Smoke dispersal is also a determining factor before decisions to ignite occur. Managers always strive to minimize impacts to rural developed areas.

One 46 acre unit adjacent to Buckskinner Park is scheduled for treatment and will be evaluated carefully due to its proximity to the City of Williams. This operation should be completed in one day. Smoke may be visible and light impacts may occur but are expected to be short in duration. Additional notifications will be made throughout the community prior to this area being treated.

Ignitions on approximately 96 acres of piles near Russel tank will commence the beginning of next week however no smoke impacts are anticipated due to the remote location east of Tusayan.All prescribed fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division and to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fires are provided regularly throughout the year. This information can be found at the following sources:

· Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
· Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Kaibab South Zone Rx Fire: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5160/

Fuels Reduction Efforts Continue on Tusayan Ranger District

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TUSAYAN – Fire Managers on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest will continue burning slash piles on a 429 acre block this week just west of the Grand Canyon Airport.

The return of wet winter weather has enabled crews to resume working where they started last month eliminating woody fuel loads from previous thinning projects southwest of the town of Tusayan. Piles generally consume quickly due to the arrangement of burnable material above the ground and have little to no spread potential over the dampened surface.Smoke may be visible for short durations from the Grand Canyon Village, Highway 64 and the community of Tusayan but is expected to dissipate rapidly toward the northeast with very light impacts. Conditions are monitored closely throughout the day to ensure smoke ventilation is optimal during operations.

Visitors are always reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires, as firefighters, fire-related traffic and smoke may all be present.

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division and to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management

Pile Burns to Continue on South Side of Williams Ranger District

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WILLIAMS – Fire crews will begin burning an additional 500 acres of hand piles scattered across the southern half of the Williams Ranger District beginning Monday of this week.

Inclement weather bringing moisture has presented favorable conditions to continue reducing fuel loads at various locations that include Coleman Lake, Sevier Flat, and Jackass Flat. Conditions will be evaluated daily before burns are implemented to ensure desirable effects and management objectives are being met. Fire managers will conduct operations incrementally at different locations throughout the week.

Smoke production is expected to be minimal with very short duration and disperse quickly to the northeast. No overnight impacts are expected.

Visitors are always reminded to use caution when traveling in the vicinity of prescribed fires, as firefighters, fire-related traffic and smoke may all be present.

All prescribed fires are subject to approval by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For additional information on the Smoke Management Division and to view prescribed burn authorizations for any given day, visit www.azdeq.gov/programs/air-quality-programs/smoke-management

Notifications of upcoming prescribed fires are provided regularly throughout the year. This information can be found at the following sources:

· Fire Information Recorded Hotline: 928-635-8311
· Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaibabNF (Text ‘follow kaibabnf’ to 40404 to receive text messages.)
· Kaibab Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaibabNF
· Kaibab website “Recent News”: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab
· Kaibab South Zone Rx Fire: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5160/