Tag Archives: Arizona

Plan for lane restrictions on SR 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff May 10-12

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The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising motorists to plan for daytime lane restrictions on State Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff starting Tuesday, May 10, as crews perform guardrail repairs north of Grasshopper Point.

The following restrictions are in place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, through Thursday, May 12:

  • SR 89A will be restricted to one lane only with alternating north- and southbound travel at various locations between mileposts 376 and 384.
    Flaggers will assist drivers through the work zone.
  • A 14-foot vehicle width limit will be in place.
  • Drivers should be prepared to stop, proceed with caution and watch for maintenance personnel and equipment.

As a reminder, portions of SR 89A in Oak Creek Canyon are currently reduced to one lane only with alternating north- and southbound travel between Pumphouse Wash Bridge and Oak Creek Vista (roughly between mileposts 387 and 390) as part of the SR 89A Oak Creek Canyon Improvements project that is underway.

Armed robberies in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – On 05/07/22 at approximately 9:30 PM, an unknown suspect entered the Family Dollar at 3494 E Route 66 and displayed a handgun to the clerks and demanded money.  The suspect then left the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  A video canvass was completed, and the pictured vehicle was observed leaving the parking lot of the shopping complex around the time of the robbery.

On 05/09/22 at approximately 05:45 AM, an unknown suspect entered the Circle K store at 2718 N Steve’s Blvd and again displayed a handgun to the clerks and demanded money.  The suspect left on foot Northbound on Steve’s Blvd into the lower Greenlaw neighborhood of Flagstaff after the incident.  The suspect appears to be wearing identical clothing from the incident at Family Dollar from 05/07/22.

The suspect appears to be wearing a dark colored Carhartt brand jacket, and has a beanie, face mask, black pants and black shoes.  The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

If you have information about these crimes, please contact Detective Gilbert at 928-679-4120 or jdgilbert@flagstaffaz.gov. You can also submit your tip anonymously at Coconino County Silent Witness at 928-774-6111. Remember, we need your information not your name.

Be Bear Aware: Arizona’s hot, dry conditions may increase bear activity

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PHOENIX — Arizona’s hot, dry conditions have reduced the amount of natural vegetation available to bears in the wild, raising the chance of them wandering into areas they are typically not seen in search of food. Although bears are typically shy and tend to avoid humans, they have an excellent sense of smell, and this can be problematic for bears and people.

Wildlife officials advise those living in or visiting bear country to not feed wildlife or leave trash or other attractants, such as pet food or bird seed, accessible because a fed bear is a dead bear.

“If a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it’s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of humans and begins to actively search out other human food sources,” says Amy Burnett, AZGFD information and education program manager. “At that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.”

Safety tips to avoid attracting bears:

Keep them away from your home

  • Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
  • Take bird feeders down at night.
  • Keep pet and livestock food inside or remove all uneaten food.

Although forest closures or restrictions due to wildfires and hot, dry conditions may temporarily affect access for hiking and camping in parts of Arizona, the following are good tips nonetheless:

Camping

  • Keep your food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in your tent.
  • Don’t burn left-over food or trash on the grill or in a campfire.
  • Set up your campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers and other bodies of water.

Hiking

  • Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant or perfumes.
  • Make noise or hike in groups.
  • If you take your pet hiking with you, keep it on a leash at all times.

In case of a bear encounter

  • Do NOT run.
  • Back away slowly while keeping your eyes on the bear.
  • Make yourself look bigger than you are by raising your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket up higher than your head.
  • Throw items and yell at the bear.
  • If attacked, fight back.

Bear sightings in areas where there is human activity should be reported to AZGFD’s dispatch center at 623-236-7201. For questions or to obtain a brochure on living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/LivingWith.

New opportunity to protect bonus points a real “Plus”

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All of us know what it feels like to deal with the frustration and disappointment of an unforeseen event. After all, life happens.

That’s why the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is introducing “PointGuard Plus,” an innovative new product that will be available just in time for hunters who will be applying for 2022 hunt permit-tags for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison and sandhill crane.

Whether an applicant purchases PointGuard Plus, or the standard PointGuard, he or she will have peace of mind in knowing they can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason, and the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated (see details below).

A bonus point is an accumulated credit that authorizes the department to issue an applicant additional computer-generated random numbers during a draw. An applicant accumulates a bonus point each year in which he or she submits a valid application and does not draw a hunt permit-tag.

So, what are the advantages of PointGuard Plus?

  • For $25, an applicant will have the opportunity to surrender a hunt permit-tag and have their bonus points reinstated for all eligible big game species for three consecutive draw cycles from the date of purchase.
  • PointGuard Plus can be purchased from the time of completing an online application,  right up to the deadline to update credit card or debit card information (prior to AZGFD  processing hunt applications). The fee is non-refundable.
  • Those who purchase PointGuard Plus will receive priority positioning for the reissuing of hunt permit-tags that are surrendered by PointGuard members and non-members alike.
  • A free AZGFD portal account is not required to purchase PointGuard Plus. A portal account is still needed for those applicants wishing to view their draw results, however.
  • PointGuard Plus is completely discretionary.

And PointGuard?

  • Like PointGuard Plus, standard PointGuard is available to all applicants when applying online for a hunt permit-tag.
  • PointGuard is $10 per species (an increase of $5), per applicant, and also can be purchased from the time of completing an online application until the deadline to update credit card or debit card information. The fee is non-refundable.
  • Only one hunt permit-tag may be surrendered, per species. If an applicant is drawn in the future for that particular species, that hunt-permit tag must be used, expending all accumulated bonus points. Only then may an applicant participate again in PointGuard (and PointGuard Plus).
  • A free AZGFD portal account is not required to purchase PointGuard. A portal account is still needed for those applicants wishing to view their draw results, however.
  • PointGuard is completely discretionary.

So, which tier of PointGuard service is the way to go? It really comes down to how many species an applicant chooses to hunt and, if successful in the draw, their willingness to risk losing their bonus points in the event they’re unable to participate in that hunt.

For example, an applicant who only applies once a year to hunt deer might choose PointGuard for $10 per species. On the other hand, if an applicant applies for multiple species in any of the fall, spring, or pronghorn and elk draws — or all three — being covered for three consecutive draw cycles from the date of purchase for $25 makes PointGuard Plus a tremendous value.

In either case, PointGuard Plus and PointGuard both provide the same opportunity for an applicant to surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason and retain their coveted bonus points.

Here is the process to surrender a hunt permit-tag:

  • A hunt permit-tag must be surrendered prior to the close of business the day before the start of that particular hunt.
  • An applicant who has purchased PointGuard Plus or PointGuard will present the original hunt permit-tag to be surrendered, along with a completed tag surrender application form, in person to any customer service representative at any of the department’s statewide office locations. The documents also can be submitted by mail. All documents must be received no later than close of business one day prior to the beginning of a hunt.
  • The hunt permit-tag being surrendered and PointGuard Plus or PointGuard purchase will be verified by the department.
  • The department will restore all accumulated bonus points for that particular species, including the bonus point the applicant would have accrued if not successful in the draw.
  • The hunt permit-tag fee is non-refundable.

A person who donates, or transfers, his or her hunt permit-tag to a qualified nonprofit organization, also can participate in tag surrender, provided the requirements listed above are fulfilled. An acceptable proof of the transfer must be provided to the department through a qualified nonprofit organization.

According to rule (R12-4-118), the department has several options for the reissuance of a  surrendered hunt permit-tag. The proximity to the start of a particular hunt, the type of hunt permit-tag, and demand for that hunt permit-tag will factor into how it will be reissued.

For more information, call 602-942-3000.
 

Elden Lookout Road, Rocky Ridge Trail closed for construction projects

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FLAGSTAFF — Approximately 5 miles of Mt Elden Road will be closed today till July 1 for construction associated with reducing sediment flooding from the Museum Fire and in order to keep the public safe during heavy construction activities.

This temporary closure prohibits motorized vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from using the Elden Lookout Road (Forest Road 557) and Trail #153 (Rocky Ridge Trail) in the closed portions identified in the order and map.

Those exempt from this temporary closure include participants with the Cocodona 250 Race, which was coordinated and planned well before this closure order was developed. Safety personnel will be placed along Elden Lookout Road to help keep participants safe during the time they use the road.

Coconino National Forest and the county have contracted an alluvial fan restoration project along three tributaries that are affected by the Museum Fire. Tiffany Construction and Natural Channel Design will be performing earth moving activities with heavy machinery to increase resiliency of the tributaries.

The earth movement is a safety concern for public and will require a short-term restriction while construction activities, such as building weirs, drop structures, and elevating the road, are completed. The goal is to restore portions of the watershed for revegetation and reduce sediment transportation downstream into the City of Flagstaff.

Burned Area Emergency Response team completes Soil Burn Severity map for Tunnel Fire

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FLAGSTAFF – On May 3, Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists, led by Brandon Waterman, completed their field data evaluation to produce the Soil Burn Severity (SBS) map for the approximately 19,075-acre Tunnel Fire.

The map and the data delineate unburned, low, moderate and high SBS categories. The BAER team assessing the Tunnel Fire determined that approximately 4,774 acres (24%) of the fire is unburned, approximately 12,285 acres (67%) have low SBS, approximately 1,421 acres (8%) sustained a moderate SBS and only approximately 11 acres (<1%) were identified as having high soil burn severity.The SBS map product is an estimate of fire effects to soils, not fire effects to vegetation. SBS characterizes fire effects to the soil surface and below ground. Fire effects to vegetation would include an estimate of vegetation mortality which does not always correlate with degree of soil burn severity.

Moderate and high soil burn severity can alter or damage physical, chemical, and biological soil properties resulting in increased runoff, erosion, and negative effects to soil productivity. These soil properties include but are not limited to hydrophobicity (water repellency), soil organic matter content, soil pore space, soil cover (effective litter), and soil structure (including grade (degree of aggregation) and type (physical form).

Changes to these soil properties determine the degree of soil burn severity. Water repellency often occurs naturally in soils and it changes as a function of fire. It is frequently discussed as a post-fire effect. Fire can increase the strength and thickness—or depth—of water repellent layers in soil, considerably affecting post-fire water runoff and possibly extending time for recovery of the burned area.

The Tunnel BAER assessment team used remote sensing imagery with field-validated soils data to produce the final SBS map. The BAER team will use the SBS map as an analysis tool to estimate post-fire erosion with subsequent sediment delivery, stream flows and debris flow probabilities. The map is also being shared with cooperating agencies.

The Tunnel Fire soil burn severity map can be downloaded at the “Tunnel Fire BAER” InciWeb site (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8088/) as a JPEG or PDF version under the “Maps” tab.

As a reminder, The Coconino National Forest has instituted a Forest Closure Order for the area affected by the Tunnel Fire.

Coconino NF responding to 2-acre fire 8 miles north of Sunset Crater

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FLAGSTAFF – On May 2, Coconino National Forest resources are responding to the two-acre Antelope Fire, located eight miles north of Sunset Crater near Highway 89 (GPS coordinates 35°28’54.0″N 111°33’21.0″W).

The wind-driven fire was spreading at a moderate rate through grass-type fuels.

Resources at the scene included one Type 2 hand crew, four engines, one dozer, one water tender and miscellaneous overhead. An air attack resource had been ordered.

The fire was reported at 1:09 p.m. and its cause is under investigation.

No structures were threatened and smoke impact may have been noticed along Highway 89 and in the Doney Park area.

The fire was quickly contained and does not appear on the Incident Web Site.

Coconino National Forest offices open and begin firewood permit sales May 2

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FLAGSTAFF – The Coconino National Forest will open its headquarters building and ranger stations to the public on Monday (May 2), which is the same day it will also begin selling firewood permits for the 2022 season.
Purchases can be made over the phone or in-person using check or credit card at the Forest Supervisor’s Office and Flagstaff Ranger Station between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Red Rock Ranger Station on weekdays (except Wednesdays from noon to 3 p.m.)
  • Forest Supervisor’s Office, 928-527-3600, 1824 S. Thompson St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
  • Flagstaff Ranger Station, 928-526-0866, 5075 N. Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
  • Red Rock Ranger Station, 928-203-2900, 8375 AZ-179, Sedona, AZ 86351
The Mogollon Rim Ranger Station is currently not able to process permit sales at this time.
In addition to a method of payment, purchasers should be prepared to provide their name, address, phone number, type of identification and identification number, the names of any additional cutters, credit card information, the type of wood and number of cords desired.
The minimum cost for a permit is $20, with a maximum purchase of 12 cords per household. Permits allow for the cutting of down and dead wood or standing wood that meets certain criteria in specified areas. The cost for oak, aspen, juniper and maple will be $5 per cord, and the cost for pine and mixed conifer will be $2.50 per cord.
There will be many visitors and phone calls during the first couple of weeks, so please be patient and realize there is limited staffing fielding a large volume of requests. In-person purchases will be given priority over phone calls, but we will do everything we can to accommodate both as much as possible.
For those ordering over the phone, permits and associated load tags will be mailed to purchasers, along with a receipt and a firewood guide that includes cutting instructions and a map. Purchasers are required to sign and date the permit in the permittee line as soon as it is received.
Purchasing by mailed check:
If purchasing by check, send a written request by mail to any of the offices previously mentioned, to the attention of “Timber Permits.” The written request should include your name, address, phone number, type of identification and identification number, the names of any additional cutters, the type of wood and number of cords desired. Your written request must be signed and dated, as well as include your check payment for the exact amount of cords being purchased — as long as the minimum of $20 is met.
Forest roads and other precautions
Unless specified elsewhere in the permit or on its accompanying map, or identified as prohibited, motorized off-road travel is authorized to access and load firewood. The permit does not authorize motorized cross-country travel to scout for firewood, but it does authorize off-road vehicle use by the most direct route in and out of the area to accomplish firewood retrieval. Please exercise caution when driving off-road and avoid resource damage.
The Coconino National Forest now has GPS-enabled firewood maps for smartphones, tablets and Garmin GPS devices, which may be used as a supplement to the firewood guide issued with each permit.
Firewood cutters should be aware chainsaws can throw sparks and ignite grasses and brush, so please take care when cutting firewood. 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. As the season continues, cutters need to ensure they are aware of any fire restrictions by checking local Forest Service information.
Free use firewood areas
There are currently no free-use firewood areas designated for the 2022 season, but areas may be designated at a later point. Please check with your local Forest Service office periodically for any updates.
Other permit info
Additional forest and district permit programs such as Wildings, Post, Poles or House logs and Post and Stays will also be open for sale.

Kaibab National Forest firewood permit sales begin May 2

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WILLIAMS – On Monday, May 2, the Kaibab National Forest will begin selling personal-use firewood permits for the 2022 season. Permit holders will be able to collect firewood from May 2 through November 30 on the North Kaibab Ranger District and through December 31 on the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts.

Permits are $20 for 10 cords of wood. Permit holders will receive maps, detailed cutting regulations, and load tags which must be physically attached to each ¼ cord of firewood and visible from the rear of the vehicle. The load tagging system helps maintain accountability and provides data for planning future firewood programs.

The 2022 load tags are not reusable. In 2020 and 2021, the forest issued reusable load tags to continue providing access to firewood while minimizing exposure during the pandemic. This season the Kaibab NF is returning to the single-use, quarter-cord tags.

Permits will be valid for firewood collection only within the ranger district from which the permit was purchased.

Permits for the Williams and Tusayan Districts will be issued only in person.

  • Williams Ranger District Office, 742 S. Clover Road, Williams; 928-635-5600
  • Tusayan Ranger District Office, 176 Lincoln Log Loop, Tusayan; 928-638-2443
  • Forest Supervisor’s Office (Williams and Tusayan permits only), 600 S. 6th St., Williams; 928-635-8200

Until the North Kaibab Ranger District Office reopens its doors, permits for this district may only be purchased by phone and will be issued by mail. Once the office is open, permits will be issued in person.

North Kaibab Ranger District Office, 430 S. Main St., Fredonia; 928-660-3913

The Kaibab NF firewood permits webpage will be updated with additional details throughout the season.

Intermittent closures of State Route 89A near Pumphouse Wash bridge May 2

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The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising drivers, area residents and businesses that a 3-mile section of State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon will be intermittently closed overnight on Monday, May 2.

SR 89A will be closed intermittently to traffic through the switchback portion of the roadway between the Pumphouse Wash Bridge and Oak Creek Vista (approximately between mileposts 387 – 390).

The 15-minute, non-consecutive full closures will occur twice per hour from 9 p.m. Monday, May 2 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 3.

Drivers should be prepared to stop and use caution around construction personnel and equipment while the overnight closures are in place.

The restrictions are needed so crews can place traffic-control barriers on the roadway for the SR 89A Oak Creek Canyon Improvements project, which includes rockfall mitigation, erosion control and a bridge rehabilitation.

Please visit azdot.gov/SR89A for additional project information